14 September 2016

The Guardian: Gay referee in Spain receives death threats after return to football

Spain’s first openly gay football referee has received homophobic death threats after returning to the game months after quitting in the wake of abuse.

Jesús Tomillero, 21, was refereeing a game between CD Lasalle and Atlético Zabal in Andalusía’s second division on Saturday when a Lasalle supporter told him to “get off for being gay” after he awarded a penalty to Zabal. [...]

Spain has generally embraced sexual tolerance since the death of General Franco in 1975, and became the third European country to legalise same-sex marriage, in 2005.

A survey conducted three years ago suggested Spain was the most accepting country in Europe when it came to homosexuality, with 88% of respondents saying society should accept it.

But prejudice remains a problem. According to statistics gathered by an equality group, in the Madrid region there is a homophobic attack every two days.

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