Hundreds are protesting against the rise of homophobic attacks in Madrid

MADRID, September 11 (Reuters) – Hundreds of people gathered in central Madrid on Saturday to demand better protection for LGBT rights following a series of homophobic attacks that have rocked Spain in recent months.

People waved rainbow flags and carried banners that said, “justice,” “touch one of us, touch us all,” “kill us.”

“We are here to protest against the ongoing homophobic attacks and the constant aggressions that take place weekend after weekend,” protester Gabriel Escribano said.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chaired an urgent meeting of ministers, community leaders and police on Friday to discuss how to reduce hate crime, which has grown by about 9 percent a year since 2014, according to the ministry. ‘Interior. Read more

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Wednesday that hate crimes were on the rise and were becoming more violent.

There have been growing calls for the government to take action since the assassination of nursing assistant Samuel Luiz, who was assassinated until July in the northwestern region of Galicia, allegedly because of his sexual orientation. Read more

For a long time, Spain has been hailed as a destination suitable for LGBT people and was a pioneer of gay rights, becoming the third country in the world to legalize gay marriage in 2005.

Report by Michael Gore and Elena Rodriguez; Written by Jessica Jones; Edited by Christina Fincher

Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.