Héctor Fort faces homophobic abuse after photo with LGBTQ+ activist

Barcelona's 18-year-old full-back Héctor Fort has faced a wave of homophobic abuse online after a photo was shared of him holding drag queen and LGBTQIA+ activist Brigitte Lamoure at a charity gala. The hateful comments, many reportedly from young social media users, targeted both Fort and Lamoure, and questioned Fort's sexuality. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from LGBTQIA+ organizations, the Catalan Observatory Against Homophobia, Barcelona fans, and FC Barcelona itself, which reiterated its commitment to condemning homophobic attitudes in society and sport. Lamoure publicly lamented the hate, emphasizing the need to continue fighting for a free and inclusive society, while the Observatory expressed full support for both Fort and Lamoure. This episode highlights ongoing challenges for LGBTQIA+ representation in sports, coming shortly after similar abuse was directed at footballer Borja Iglesias. Fort has not commented publicly on the situation.