Venezuela Arrests 33 Men in LGBT Venue for 'Homosexuality'

In the city of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, plainclothes police officers raided an LGBT venue, detaining 33 men for 10 hours. According to La Nacion, law enforcement accused the visitors of the “crime of homosexuality.” No such offense exists in the country’s legislation.

Human rights organizations, including the Observatorio Venezolano de Violencias LGBTIQ+, stated that during the detention, the men were subjected to extortion and public humiliation—their sexual orientation was outed to relatives and friends. The police did not have a search warrant.

The Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated a criminal investigation into the illegal search and ethical violations. Five police officers have been detained and will face trial. A similar incident occurred in Venezuela in 2023, when 33 men were detained under similar circumstances in a private spa in the city of Valencia.