Brazilian Gay Teen Found Dead With Broken Neck

An openly gay teen from Brazil was found dead Wednesday as a result of what is believed to be an anti-gay attack, Gay Star News reports.

Jo�o Ant�nio Donati's body was discovered in a vacant lot in the Brazilian city of Inhumas, located in the state of Goi�s. Donati's neck was broken and his mouth stuffed with paper.

Donati, 18, was open about his sexuality and worked at a local bar. According to local police, officers are investigating the murder as a possible hate crime.

"We will investigate the case to know if the crime is connected with negative feelings towards gay people," a police spokesperson told Brazilian-language newspaper the Option Journal.

According to Pink News, Donati's Facebook page has been flooded with messages of condolence. A month before his death, the teen made a status update and wrote:

"Determination, courage and self-confidence are decisive factors for success. No matter what obstacles and difficulties. If we are possessed of an unwavering determination, we will be able to overcome them."

Brazil passed a measure legalizing same-sex marriage in May. Still, anti-LGBT attacks are still common, Pink News points out, citing a February incident where six people who were thought to be linked to a string of anti-gay attacks in the country were arrested, after beating a teen to death with a skateboard.

Two weeks before that attack, another gay teen was tortured by a gang in S�o Paulo.