Santa Úrsula Councillor to Sue Over Homophobic Social Media Abuse
A Santa Úrsula councillor has publicly denounced homophobic attacks received on social media and plans to file a formal complaint, highlighting persistent prejudice in local politics.
A councillor in Santa Úrsula has spoken out about homophobic attacks he's received on social media. This highlights that prejudice against LGBTQ+ people, known as LGTBIphobia, is still a problem in public life and online, even in local politics.
Samuel Hernández Rodríguez, who handles Culture, New Technologies, and Parks and Gardens for the AISU-CC party, decided to share the verbal abuse and threats he's faced because of his sexual orientation. He posted screenshots of comments he received on his Facebook page as proof.
Hernández explained that this isn't new; the harassment started about three years ago when he first became a councillor in Santa Úrsula. In the past, most insults came from anonymous accounts. However, he noted that the recent messages are from people whose identities are known.
The councillor made a clear distinction: he accepts criticism about his work in the council, as that's part of being a public official. But he finds personal attacks based on his sexual orientation unacceptable. He also mentioned that the comments he shared publicly are not even the worst or the full extent of the abuse he's received, as he chose not to publish the more severe messages. He added that while his experience focuses on his homosexuality, other members of his political group also face similar harassment.
Because he has identified those responsible for the hate messages and threats, Hernández plans to file a formal complaint with the Civil Guard. He said he doesn't understand why these attacks are happening, as he has no personal connection with the individuals involved. He stressed that his aim is simply to do his job with the best intentions.
Hernández also shared his concern about how these attacks affect his family and partner, beyond his own distress. He firmly stated that he refuses to accept such behaviour as normal. He believes no one should have to put up with insults and threats just for being a public official in their town and being homosexual. He concluded that while he values serving his community, he and his family shouldn't have to endure this constant harassment.