Jesus Tomillero, the first referee who came out of the closet, lives in permanent fear
EDITORIAL GAYLES.TV.- After making his homosexuality public Jesus Tomillero, the first football referee to step out of the closet, was forced to leave the referee in May for the seriousness of the insults and aggressions he received when he pitted a meeting. Phrases like "You are a comepollas and you like to have your ass split" o "You're going to get the goal in the ass, you fucking asshole", they are a good example of the humiliations he received every time he jumped on the pitch to start a game.
But the passion he feels for refereeing since he was 11 years old was stronger and with the start of the new season he decided to return and the homophobic fury also returned. In the second match a spectator yelled at him: "Take it out that you have to be a fag, go to Big Brother, chula". Jesus stopped the game and expelled the aggressor, but he returned and continued insulting, which caused the suspension of the match. That precipitated some events that have worsened and motivated complaints, lawsuits and the solidarity of many people and entities.
Because you have to put yourself in the victim's shoes to understand what Jesus is living, his "I'm afraid they'll kill me" it is a plea for anguish that can not remain in a holder. Twitter has become for him a window through which come to your life all kinds of threats, humiliations and insults of the type "The boss is very angry, he does not like fags in his fields, he advises you to retire or die" o "Son of your fucking mother, we will kill you, you fucking with AIDS".
Jesus filed the corresponding complaint with the police and for the time being "It is already a summary secret and they have placed police surveillance on me at my house because I am very afraid", according to Tomillero himself. The question is whether it will really act to locate those who cowardly rely on the impunity of social networks and anonymity or whether we will have to wait for a misfortune to happen but not regret for what was not done in time . Death threats are typified as crimes and those who proclaim them should be persecuted, tried and punished, there is no more.
That is why, in this context of impunity and helplessness, the role of institutions, entities and public figures takes on a very important value by taking sides with the victim and calling for action to be taken to protect it. From the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, through members of various political parties such as Esquerra Republicana or Citizens or even the recently appointed Minister of Health, the lady Dolors Montserrat of the PP, have met with Jesus showing their support and solidarity.
But if there is a particularly sensitive area and where it is absolutely essential for managers and managers to speak, it is in the sport and specifically in the field of football. Tomillero himself turned to the Association of Arbitrators where he was told that he would be helped, but according to Jesus, "they have done nothing." In this sad panorama, the position of the FC Barcelona that, the last 29 of October, invited Tomillero to the tribune of Camp Nou to witness a match between Granada and Barça. An act of reparation and solidarity consistent with the line of fight against homophobia in football played by Barcelona.
But perhaps what has not reached the soul is the frankness of the player Barca Andres Iniesta who received a visit from Jesus and after showing his concern about the brutal weight of homophobia in football, he was sincere with a tremendous statement: "Look what happens to you, imagine what would happen to us". That's how clear the captain of FC Barcelona with Tomillero was. And Jesus fitted it, "Iniesta told me that's why it's normal for players not to come out of the closet".
We must see the images of mutilated bodies sent to Jesus, we must read the threats, we must try to listen to the insults and close our eyes, and imagine how we live with it, how today and here, in the XXI century, breathe the permanent fear that any fanatic ends your life. You have to put yourself in the victim's skin.
Sources: El Periodico, La Vanguardia, Sport.es
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