“I often experienced Ames as not being as progressive as many people believe it is, and there still is a very large closeted queer community here,” she told the Des Moines Register when he was convicted in November.
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. 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. A 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.