Gay Brazilians Targeted and Killed in Deadly Robberies Linked to Dating Apps
Deadly Attacks on Gay Men Linked to Dating Apps
In Brazil, a troubling trend has emerged as gay men are targeted and killed after arranging meetings through dating apps. Since March 2024, at least five gay men have been murdered following such encounters, according to local news reports.
Incident Overview
On June 12, known as Lover’s Day in Brazil, 24-year-old Leo Nunes arranged a meeting via the Hornet dating app in São Paulo’s Sacoma neighborhood. Surveillance footage shows two men on a motorcycle attacking him, robbing his phone, and fatally shooting him. São Paulo police are treating the case as a robbery-homicide and have arrested one suspect.
Nunes’ death is part of a disturbing pattern. Several other victims have reported armed robberies after being lured by fake profiles on gay dating apps. The police have also highlighted similar scams involving straight men, although specific figures were not provided.
Impact on the LGBTQ+ Community
These incidents have alarmed Brazil’s LGBTQ+ community, which, despite its vibrant presence, often feels marginalized and vulnerable. This vulnerability is exacerbated by systemic homophobia, which criminals exploit to intimidate and target gay individuals.
Wanderley Montanholi, a lawyer for the family of Heleno Veggi Dumba, a gay doctor murdered in April, noted that Dumba was killed in a similar robbery scheme. The criminals lured him through a dating app and shot him in the head.
Law Enforcement and App Response
The São Paulo police have arrested three suspects in Dumba’s case, but details remain scarce. Authorities have indicated that they are investigating a broader pattern of violence linked to dating apps, though they have not confirmed specific trends.
Gabriel, another victim, recounted being robbed at gunpoint after arranging a date through a fake profile. He reported his assault to the police and the dating app Hornet, but the profile remained active for weeks.
Hornet’s head of operations, Gerry Monaghan, stated that the company reviews all user reports and has increased staff and improved its reporting system in response to the recent violence. Grindr, another dating app, also acknowledged the abuse of its platform for targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and emphasized its collaboration with law enforcement and the inclusion of security features.
Community Response
Nunes, originally from Cambuquira, moved to São Paulo for its more accepting environment. His tragic death underscores the need for heightened safety measures and vigilance within the LGBTQ+ community and dating app platforms.
