{"id":92041,"date":"2019-06-29T12:25:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-29T16:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/lgbtq-rights-group-under-fire-for-celebrating-accused-gay-bashers-at-annual-equality-gala-videos\/"},"modified":"2019-06-29T12:25:26","modified_gmt":"2019-06-29T16:25:26","slug":"lgbtq-rights-group-under-fire-for-celebrating-accused-gay-bashers-at-annual-equality-gala-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/lgbtq-rights-group-under-fire-for-celebrating-accused-gay-bashers-at-annual-equality-gala-videos\/","title":{"rendered":"LGBTQ Rights Group Under Fire for Celebrating Accused Gay Bashers at Annual Equality Gala: VIDEOS"},"content":{"rendered":"

LGBTQ Rights Group Under Fire for Celebrating Accused Gay Bashers at Annual Equality Gala: VIDEOS<\/b><\/p>\n

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Four men<\/a> accused of assaulting a gay<\/a> couple<\/a> after Miami Beach Pride in 2018 were celebrated this week at an annual Champions of Equality Gala for SAVE, South Florida\u2019s largest LGBTQ group, and the group\u2019s executive director Tony Lima told attendees the men<\/a> were \u201c\u2018wrongly accused,\u2019 not only of a hate crime, but the attack itself, despite it being caught on video<\/a>,\u201d according to South Florida Gay News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Terry Gonzalez-Chaveza, a spokesperson for the Office of the State Attorney, disputed Lima\u2019s claim: \u201cWe are aggressively pursuing the prosecution of the case. We believe we have sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the charges against them: Aggravated Battery with Prejudice\/Weapon or Bodily Harm, Aggravated Battery, Assault with Prejudice\/or on Religious Institution Grounds, and Assault. If that were not the case, the charges would have been dropped in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we reported in June 2018<\/a>, hate crime charges were added to aggravated battery charges following the assault, and mean the men<\/a> would face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n

Rene Chalarca and Dmitry Logunov, the couple<\/a>, and Helmut Muller Estrada, a good samaritan who stepped in, were violently attacked by the four men<\/a>. The victims said they were targeted because of their sexual orientation. They said their attackers used gay<\/a> slurs while assaulting them.<\/p>\n

The suspects, who attended the SAVE gala, are (clockwise, from top left) Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa, 21, Luis Alonso-Piovet, 20, Juan C. Lopez, 21, and Adonis Diaz, 21. The perps turned themselves in after being seen in video<\/a> and surveillance photos widely shared on social media.<\/p>\n

Lopez\u2019s lawyer said there was \u201cclearly\u201d not gay<\/a> animus because Lopez\u2019s father is gay<\/a>: \u201cThese kids grew up with their friend Juan \u2013 their father has been in a gay<\/a> relationship the last 15 years. These kids have participated in that \u2013 that\u2019s at issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Miami Herald<\/em> reports<\/a>: \u201cLima apologized via a video<\/a> statement on Facebook posted Friday night. He said Lopez\u2019s parents contacted him about six weeks ago to inquire about volunteering with the group. Each man<\/a> volunteered about two to three hours each, and helped with data entry and some preparations. The men<\/a> and Lopez\u2019s parents bought tickets, he said. Lima said he welcomed the group during the program but did not recall claiming the men<\/a> had been wrongfully accused. \u2018If that\u2019s what I said in haste, I apologize for that,\u2019 he said. \u2018I am no one to pass judgment on the case.\u2019 He said he acted alone and should have consulted with the board of directors.\u201d<\/p>\n

SAVE apologized in a Facebook post: \u201cWe want to extend our deepest apologies first, to the victims, and equally, to the community for any insensitivity that may have been conveyed on our behalf by their attendance and mention at the gala. We are currently investigating this matter more thoroughly to determine the facts around the attendance and recognition of these individuals and will be providing an update to our supporters and the community at large as soon as we gather all the appropriate information.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post LGBTQ Rights Group Under Fire for Celebrating Accused Gay Bashers at Annual Equality Gala: VIDEOS<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad Gay News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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LGBTQ Rights Group Under Fire for Celebrating Accused Gay Bashers at Annual Equality Gala: VIDEOS<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n