Mexican official fired over 'homophobic' comment in response to Orlando massacre

Members of the LGBT community embracing during a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in Mexico City, on June 12. PHOTO: REUTERS

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - A Mexican state government official was fired from his job on Monday (June 13) after he posted a homophobic comment on social media about the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Mr Jose de Jesus Manzo Corona, a coordinator at the development and social integration agency of western Jalisco state, was sacked at the request of Governor Aristoteles Sandoval, the government said in a statement.

The statement said Mr Manzo "made homophobic posts on social media" related to the carnage at the Pulse club in the Florida city, where 49 people were slaughtered by American gunman Omar Mateen, who was killed by police.

The government did not disclose the offensive post, but newspapers said the official's Facebook page had a message saying "too bad it was 50 and not 100".

Mr Sandoval wrote on Twitter that he had asked for the official to be fired and that "discriminatory expressions will not be tolerated under any circumstances".

Three of the 49 victims were Mexican nationals and another was among the 53 people wounded in the worst mass shooting in United States history.

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