ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Gay men in Ivory Coast say they’ve been assaulted and forced to flee their homes after the U.S. Embassy published a photo of them signing a condolence book for victims of this month’s killings at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
The photo, published on the embassy’s website and shared on social media, shows six men with the caption “LGBTI community signing the condolence book.”
Two men said they were attacked by mobs shouting anti-gay slurs. Two more said they fled their homes under pressure from relatives. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns.
Elizabeth Ategou, an embassy spokesperson, said the embassy “deeply regrets that any individuals were attacked.” She said the men were notified that their photos would be taken and published — something the men deny.
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