Gay Men In Ivory Coast Attacked For Signing Condolence Book For Orlando Victims

Some even had to flee their homes after the photo outed them to their families and friends.
From: NewNowNext

A group of gay men in Ivory Coast have reportedly been attacked and forced to flee their homes after a photo of them signing a condolence book for the victims of the Orlando massacre was published by the U.S. Embassy.

The photo of six men with the caption “LGBTI community signing the condolence book” has been widely shared on social media since it was published on the Embassy’s website, and now two of the men are saying it caused them to be attacked by an angry mob shouting anti-gay slurs.

Both of those men, and two others from the photo, said they’ve now had to leave their own homes because of family and friends who didn’t know about their sexuality.

Although the men said they were never contacted about the photo before it was published, it was approved by three Ivory Coast organizations that advocate for LGBT rights.

Press officer Elizabeth Ategou says the embassy “deeply regrets that any individuals were attacked based on any kind of orientation they might have,” and that the Embassy encourages the men to report the attacks to the police.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Ivory Coast, but there are no legal protections for LGBT minorities who experience any sort of hate crime.

The photo has now been removed from the Embassy’s website.