A cultural center in Brazil that was due to host a gay wedding this weekend has been almost completely destroyed by a fire.

It’s believed that the cause of the blaze was an arson attack and is likely to have been linked to the fact that the CTG Sentinelas do Planalto, in the city of Santana do Livramento, was due to host the same-sex ceremony.

The boss of the center, Gilbert Gisler, received an anonymous phone call a month ago from someone threatening to destroy the building because of its plans to host a gay wedding. He reported the call to the civil police.

The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning (11 Sept). Two firefighting vehicles were dispatched just after midnight, but by the time they arrived, the timber and masonry building was already well alight. Nobody was hurt in the blaze.

The CTG was a Center for Gaucho Traditions. Gisler posted on Facebook afterwards that he felt ‘sad, hurt, indignant’ at the destruction of the building.

