> Berria: Homofobia > SPAN'S MATTHEW SHEPARD

• Spain's Matthew Shepard
• America Blog, 2009-04-03 # John Aravosis

A truly horrific story out of Spain. You need to read the article, but in a nutshell, a gay couple invited a guy home from a gay bar, and in the middle of the night the guy stabs them 57 times, puts a blanket over one guy's head, ties a cable around it, and tethers the man's now dead head to a bed post. And guess what? They jury acquitted him!

First, more on what this sicko did:

There are no independent witnesses, but police and forensic experts say that the murder rampage began around 4:00am. Apparently, Pérez Triviñio was stabbed first but did not die. Piñeiro then stabbed Anderson Luciano twice while in the couples' room, and 22 more times as he followed his victim out of the room, into a corridor and out to the living room - where he died.

Pérez Triviñio, in the meantime, had locked himself in the room and records show that he was able to call local authorities. The call was cut short when Piñeiro was able to break back into the room and finish him off by stabbing him 35 more times.

In the living room, he tied Anderson Luciano's hands and put a blanket over his body; in the bedroom, he placed a blanket over Pérez Triviñio's head, tied a cable around it, and tethered it to a bed post. He then emptied closets and threw clothes all over the apartment, poured alcohol and set everything on fire.

Why did the jury let him go? Because he explained to them that in the middle of the night "the gays" solicited him for sex and he was totally freaked out. Uh huh. He was hanging out in a gay bar, went home with a gay couple, slept overnight, and then when someone suggested sex, he freaked out. He claims they pulled a knife on him. Yes, that was why he had to stab them 57 times, tie cable around one guy's head and tether it to a bedpost like a pinata, and then set the entire place on fire.

Sad. Infuriating. Typical.

Spain has legalized gay marriage. So you'd think "we've won!" We haven't. Even after you win your rights - long after - you're still not equal, you're still not free. Slavery was abolished after the civil war. The Civil Rights Act didn't happen until 100 years later. And now, 50 years hence, African-Americans still face prejudice and discrimination, even having elected a black president. It takes a long time to purge bigotry.

I'm asking folks to do what they can to help publicize this case, and show support. There's a Facebook group I'd urge everyone to join. There are also protests this Saturday in Madrid, Barcelona, and around Spain.