Guatemalan Congressman Accuses Congressmen of Mocking His Sexual Condition

Guatemalan deputy Aldo Dávila accused a group of congressmen who allegedly mocked his sexual orientation during a parliamentary session on Wednesday and thanked the various expressions of support, such as that of the local ombudsman, Jordan Rodas.

Dávila, who did not rule out taking legal action in the case, assured that mockery for being homosexual "does not affect me, has never affected me and will not affect me. I have been fighting for the human rights of sexual diversity for 25 years and I am used to it" , but I emphasize that it will not allow "the abuse of these people (deputies)".

In a video shared on his official account of the social network Twitter, Dávila, which premiered in Congress on January 14 as part of the Winaq party block - founded by Nobel Peace Prize Rigoberta Menchú - added that the support that he has received urges him to "continue working, committed to working for the historically excluded populations that, in all areas, suffer from stigma and discrimination."

Upon his departure from the parliamentary chamber last Tuesday, some deputies shouted insults at Dávila synonyms for homosexuals, such as "hollow" or "nose", to which Dávila replied that "I have 'hollow' (homosexual) elsewhere and the that you want to go to bed (go to the blows) with me, out there. "

In addition, Dávila stressed to his colleagues that they shouted homophobic insults that they would have to have patience, "because they are going to see me four years here", in Congress.

This Wednesday, during the plenary session, he said that what happened yesterday "is what happens in schools and colleges" and regretted that there is "a high rate of people of sexual diversity who commit suicide" because of the criticism.

"What affects me is that they don't have the civil courage to face me and tell me in the face, that they come with me and let's talk. They do it behind my back," he added to Parliament.

The Human Rights attorney in Guatemala, Jordán Rodas, lamented this Wednesday the attacks "of a homophobic nature against the deputy Aldo Dávila by some congressmen within the Chamber of Congress" and added that all the people in the Central American country are " free and equal in dignity and rights and deserve equal respect. "

The party's leader, Rigoberta Menchú, also expressed her disappointment on social networks for what happened.

Parliamentarian Andrea Villagrán, a member of the National Welfare bloc, joined the call against legislative homophobia, emphasizing that "homophobic attacks" seek to "damage the integrity of the people who make up" the Parliament.

Dávila is the first openly gay man to be elected deputy in the history of Guatemala.