Amnesty International says gay rights office in Haiti attacked, members tied and beaten

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Amnesty International says the office of a gay rights group in Haiti has been ransacked and two of its members beaten.

It said Wednesday that three men carrying handguns and machetes raided the office of the Haitian rights organization Kouraj last week. Amnesty says the intruders said the center shouldn't be allowed to operate and aimed anti-gay remarks at the two activists who were tied and beaten.

The attackers also stole equipment, which included two laptops and files that contained sensitive information about the group's members.

Haiti's small gay and lesbian community has long remained largely underground because of a strong social stigma that sparks fears of physical violence and loss of employment.

Those negative sentiments spilled into the streets this summer when thousands joined in an anti-gay demonstration.