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

10:48 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · GLBT| New York City| Puerto Rico · 1 Comment

19 Nov 2009

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

Vigils for Justice y en Memoria de Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado

19 Nov 2009

georgestevenmercado1-233x300 There are a number of vigils that will be happening this coming weekend across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico demanding justice and in memory of Jorge Steven . I will be at the one in NYC this coming Sunday (local VL’ers hit me up if you want to come with or meet up).

As soon as more information comes in I will update this post. If you have information about a vigil in your community please leave a comment or email us at info@vivirlatino.com

Chicago
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
4-6 pm
Humboldt Park

Los Angeles
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
8pm-9:30 pm
West Hollywood Corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente

New York City
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
7-9 pm
Christopher St. Piers (Tentative)

Philadelphia
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
7 pm
Love Park 15th and Arch

Washington D.C.
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
5-6:30pm
Dupont Circle, Washington D.C.
For more information contact Rayyan 410-530-6078.

People are also post vigil information from across the U.S on this facebook page.

Jueves Juegos : Maghound MAGnificent Makeover Contest

12:52 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Lifestyle| Magazines| Marketing| New York City| Shopping · No Comments

12 Nov 2009

gallery_2222_22_58020 With the access to virtual/online media taking its toll on traditional publishing (I know I’m not complaining), print media is looking for new ways to retain old audiences and gain new followers. Maghound the route that Time Inc. is going. What is Maghound?

Maghound is a magazine membership service which allows you to manage your subscriptions online, change your magazine selection as often as you like (so you could get different ones each month), and you can have each magazine delivered to a different name in your house (you can get one in your name and your kids could get their own).

I’ve been given a free trial of the service to review and present to you and that review will be up soon (the service just started rolling for me) but as a little teaser, Maghound and People StyleWatch are offering some of VL’s readers a chance to win a trip to NYC, home of yours truly, for a makeover a shopping spree.

Miercoles Musica : Johnny Pacheco, El Maestro

9:00 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Events| Music| New York City · No Comments

11 Nov 2009

Artists like Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Domingo Quiñones, Adalberto Santiago, Johnny Ventura, Roberto Roena, Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentin, Isidro Infante, Yomo Toro, Ray Viera, Jorge Maldonado, Michel, and Nicky
Marrero gather this Saturday in NYC’s United Palace Theater to pay tribute to Johnny Pacheco
and his musical legacy spanning decades. For tickets and more info visit here.

New York City Wakes Up to Four More Years of Bloomberg

12:17 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · New York City| Politics · 1 Comment

4 Nov 2009

It was a close one, 51% to 46%— a difference of less than 51,000 votes. For a moment I thought that New York City would have a new mayor but instead it looks like NYC’s billionaire mayor has won a historic and controversial third term. Certainly the fact that he reportedly spent $100 million, $15,000 an hour to Thompson’s $7 million over all, had nothing to do with it.

I was thinking about what bothered me so much about Bloomberg’s third term. Wasn’t the issue of third terms at the center of so many problems in Latin America, from Honduras to Venezuela to Colombia? Claro the fact that my politics differ is part of it but reality is a bigger part. In Latin America, at least the leaders in question attempted to have some sort of vote or referendum on the issue of additional terms, something Bloomberg did not do. Instead he went over the heads of the NYC people and went ahead and changed the term limits law. His justification, saying the city needed his help because of the economic crisis, makes no sense looking at how the economic conditions for Latinos in NYC has worsened. And it’s not just the economics that bother me. While Bloomberg doesn’t have the rabid personality of his predecessor, Giuliani, Latinos and other people of color have experienced some of the same “community policing” tactics but with a nicer facade.

Maybe I really do need to move out of NYC.

Via / The Daily Mail

NY’ers and Others : Don’t Forget to Vote Today

12:51 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · New York City| Politics · No Comments

3 Nov 2009

It’s election day in New York City (and in many other places I’m sure). If you can vote, please do with everything I said before last year’s presidential election holding true.

The biggest race here in my hood is for mayor, with wannabe third term Bloomberg and Bill Thompson as the top contenders and making sure they pander, er campaign to the Latino community. I have seen many more Bloomberg operatives in my immigrant ‘hood and much more of his trash lining the streets of my hood but he does have what, a few billion in his wallet? My mom’s phone has been ringing off the hook though with Spanish language robo-calls featuring former Bronx borough pres Fernando Ferrer telling us to support Thompson.

I won’t tell you who to vote for pero if going by any of the Spanish language campaign ads is any indication, I may have to vote for the Rent is Too Damn High Party (ok, ok I do like the Basta Bloomberg ad).

Tuesday Teatro : Brownsville Bred

7:43 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · New York City| theatre · 3 Comments

3 Nov 2009

If you are in NYC on any Monday evening this month, stop by the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe to see Elaine del Valle’s award winning one-woman show, Brownsville Bred.

The autobiographical show takes the audience through an “emotional rollercoaster” that is uplifting, heartbreaking and powerful as they witness Del Valle recreate life in the tough projects of 1980’s Brownsville, Brooklyn NY. Amongst eight other characters, Del Valle narrates as herself from ages 11 to 17. Del Valle’s loving father, another empathetic character, leaves the family of five as he falls from stature as a talented musician to a defeated heroine addict. Not unlike most impoverished families, Elaine’s mother emerges as the loveable spirit that holds the family together and guides them to a hopeful future. Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the Joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap, as Del Valle’s innocence recounts a journey to womanhood, a neighborhoods crack & crime epidemic, Salsa rumbas, and her love of Run DMC, which often times help her verbalize a unique struggle and triumph that has audiences cheering and laughing through their tears while swaying to urban rhythms.

Monday Morning Musica y Moviemiento : All the Ladies Say

2 Nov 2009

The history of hip hop is often told in a male voice and from a male point of view. The role of mujeres, from MC’s to B Girls, is told as an aside. Enter the legendary Rokafella, a figure I knew growing up, as an example of fierceness, presenting a new documentary that highlights the lives of six street dancers exploring motherhood, sexual tension, femininity versus masculinity and the rap industry/mainstream images.

This coming Saturday at BAAD!, in the Bronx, NY you can catch a sneak peek screening of All the Ladies Say. The event includes performances by guest artists and photos by Vanessa Bahmani and Emily Lady Caprice. This event is a fundraiser to support the completion of the film and will be followed by an after party with an open jam.

Click here to RSVP

Queens, NYC State Senator : Once a Community Defender, Now an Attacker?

11:00 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Justice| New York City| Politics| Violence| Women · 3 Comments

30 Oct 2009

How do we deal with men in our communities who hurt the women in our community? And I’m not just talking about our physical communities like our neighbors or relatives. What of those who claim to represent us in public office.

I wrote about my discomfort surrounding the NYC State Senator Hiram Monserrate case when charges first surfaced against him, accusing him of attacking his girlfriend. It feels complicated for me on multiple levels. Monserratte was my local council person and he is my local state senator. That never has stopped me before. That wasn’t it. I had dealings with Monserrate before he was involved in electoral politics, when he worked with the Latino Police Officers Association here in NYC and he and his organization stood with the Latino families of those killed by police brutality and us organizers. As a Latina who has dealt with domestic violence both personally, politically, and professionally, how did this man whom I identified as a defender of the community suddenly become an attacker?
Read more…

New Study Shows that for Latinos in NYC, The Recession is a Depression

10:35 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration| Money| New York City| Uncategorized| economy · 1 Comment

29 Oct 2009

empty-pockets Latino NY’ers are have been especially impacted by the current economic crisis according to a study released today by the Community Service Society (full disclosure, I worked for CSS many years ago).

-More than 1 in 4 Latinos lost their jobs. More than 4 in 10 low-income Latinos either had their hours, wages, and/or tips reduced, or lost their jobs—or both—in the past year.

-Low-income Latinos are more likely than Whites or Blacks to frequently worry about having enough money to cover expenses and bills. Latinos are more likely to worry about housing as well.

-Low income Latinos are more likely to have multiple workers in their household, but less likely to report that they have employer-sponsored benefits;

-For moderate to higher income Latino families, one in five fell behind in housing payments, and over a third had their health care costs increase;

- Latina and Black low-income working mothers are most worried about not being able to find or keep a job.

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