"The hard reality is there are people who target individuals and commit crimes against individuals because of their race, gender, sexual orientation," she told the Ames Tribune. Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said Martinez was the first person in the county's history to be convicted of a hate crime. "But 12 people that I don't know, who have no investment in me or this congregation, said this man committed a crime, and it was a crime borne of bigotry and hatred."
![jail time for burning gay flag jail time for burning gay flag](https://www.nydailynews.com/resizer/27U8ZBVcv42t9CD4_2BDpHh8VWM=/1200x0/top/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/LLD3PM7CDSMX65XSU7YCJW2DTU.jpg)
"I often experienced Ames as not being as progressive as many people believe it is, and there still is a very large closeted queeer community here," she told the Des Moines Register when he was convicted in November.
JAIL TIME FOR BURNING GAY FLAG TRIAL
The interview was entered into the trial as evidence against him.Ĭhurch pastor Eileen Gebbie, who identifies as gay woman, says she agrees that Martinez' actions were motivated by hatred. "I burned down their pride, plain and simple," he told KCCI-TV. It's a blessing from the Lord," he said, explaining that he did it because he "opposed homosexuality". He was arrested later that day, and told local media in a jail house interview that he was "guilty as charged". He then returned to the strip club where he used lighter fluid to burn the flag in the street. By the time they arrived, he had already been kicked out by bar staff.Īfter leaving the club, Martinez then travelled to the church and ripped down its flag.
![jail time for burning gay flag jail time for burning gay flag](https://media.nbcbayarea.com/2019/09/LANDSCAPE.00_00_41_06.Still001.jpg)
Police say the crime spree began at Dangerous Curves, a strip club, when police were called because a man was making threats. The incident occurred around midnight on 11 June in downtown Ames, Iowa. He was found guilty last month of hate crime harassment, reckless use of fire and being a habitual offender. You can burn the US flag all you want, you can throw a crucifix in a barrel of piss and get taxpayer funding, you can dress up like a woman and flash your dick to 7 year old kids.but by God and Sonny Jesus, you'd better not burn the fagggot flag.įifteen years in Iowa jail for burning pride flagĪdolfo Martinez, 30, admitted to his crimes in a jailhouse interviewĪ US judge has handed down a sentence of at least 15 years to a man who stole an LGBT pride flag from a church and burned it outside a strip club.Īdolfo Martinez, 30, admitted to the media that he took the flag from Ames United Church of Christ due to his animosity towards homosexuals.