This just came into VL’s email, sorry for the late notice pero this is especially important given how Latino clergy and religious leaders in the New York area have been actively speaking against equal rights for all. I am a firm believer that the rhetoric put out there, be it about immigration or marriage equity, has a direct impact on how people treat each other. When people in positions of power speak hate, hate manifests.

Puerto Rican, Latino Clergy, Theology Professors, Community Members
To Condemn Brutal Hate Killing of Gay Puerto Rican Man

On Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 12 pm, Puerto Rican and Latino pastors, professors
of theology and concerned members of the community will gather in front of the
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Office, 135 West 50th Street, between 6th and 7th
Avenues, to condemn the brutal, hateful killing of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado and
pray for him and his family.

Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a 19 year old gay man, was found on the side of a road
in Puerto Rico on Friday. He was decapitated, dismembered and partially burned.
While a suspect has been arrested in the slaying, many disturbing and homophobic
comments from police officers and local clergy have been reported.

“The purpose of this gathering is to pray for his family and also to denounce the
bigotry and homophobia that would lead some people of faith to condone such a
crime,” said Rev. Dr. Samuel Cruz, a professor at Union Theological Seminary. “We
are also going to call on other people of good faith to stand up to such hate crimes
regardless of their beliefs in terms of the LGBT community.”

The religious leaders also want to make it clear that there are many Latino people
of faith who condemn violence against anyone regardless of their religion, political
ideology and sexual orientation and will be calling on all people of faith to stand
up and denounce this horrible crime.

WHAT: Puerto Rican and Latino clergy, theological professors
and community members to denounce hate crime and pray for victim and his family

WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2009
12 pm

WHERE: Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Office
135 West 50th Street, between 6th and 7th
Avenues