Posts Tagged ‘Jorge Steven López Mercado’
Update: Jorge Steven López Mercado’s Murderer Found Guilty!
3:07 pm By BiancaLaureano · GLBT|Puerto Rico|Violence|youth · Comments Off
13 May 2010
It broke all of us in the VL familia (writers and readers alike) to hear of the murder of 19 year-old Jorge Steven López Mercado almost 5 months ago on November 14, 2009. I just read that the suspect tried for his murder, Juan José Martínez Matos, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 99 years by Judge Miriam Camila Jusino.
Primera Hora has an interview with Jorge’s parents on their site (in Spanish only). the EDGE, a Boston media source, translated part of the statement Primera Hora reported Jorge’s parents:
“We are able to find a bit of peace in this aspect, but it still not going to return Steven,” she said. “But at least there is justice in Puerto Rico.”
Jorge López evoked his faith.
“I want to send a message to Juan (Casper) and tell him there is hope in Christ,” said López with tears in his eyes. “The lord has forgiveness for him, Irregardless of what has happened. God has a plan for him if he opens his heart to Christ. God will forgive him also.”
Read more about hate crimes targeted towards Latinos by our own Mala who wrote “Hate Crimes In Context” last year.
Ricky Martin: “Hoy ACEPTO MI HOMOSEXUALIDAD”
4:21 pm By BiancaLaureano · GLBT|Music|Puerto Rico · 9 Comments
29 Mar 2010The last time you read about Ricky Martin was when we shared the statement he issued against homophobia. On his own terms, today Ricky Martin has “come out” as a gay Puerto Rican man. Let’s just take a moment to remind ourselves that he is identifying as a gay Puerto Rican man at a time when gay Puerto Rican men get murdered for begin gay, Puerto Rican, and male.
He states on his website (Spanish first then English translation):
Que pasara de ahora en adelante? Quien sabe. Solo me puedo enfocar en lo que estoy viviendo ahora. Estos años en silencio y reflexión me han fortalecido y me recordaron que el amor vive dentro de mi, que la aceptación la encuentro en mi interior, y que la verdad solo trae la calma. Hoy para mi el significado de la felicidad toma otra dimensión
Ha sido un proceso muy intenso, angustiante y doloroso pero también liberador. Les juro que cada palabra que están leyendo aquí nace de amor, purificación, fortaleza, aceptación y desprendimiento. Que escribir estas líneas es el acercamiento a mi paz interna, parte vital de mi evolución. Hoy ACEPTO MI HOMOSEXUALIDAD como un regalo que me da la vida. ¡Me siento bendecido de ser quien soy!-
English:
These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.What will happen from now on? It doesn’t matter. I can only focus on what’s happening to me in this moment. The word “happiness” takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution.
I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.
Ricky Martin Issues Statement Against Homophobia
10:18 pm By BiancaLaureano · Celebrities|GLBT|Immigration|Puerto Rico · 2 Comments
20 Dec 2009
Ricky Martin has issued a statement speaking out against homophobia. Author and activist Larry La Fountain-Stokes, author of Queer Ricans, posted this story in English and Spanish. Martin writes:
Well, when we believe in peace, there is simply no room for complacency. The murders of James Byrd, Matthew Shepard, Jorge Steven Lopez, Marcelo Lucero, Luis Ramirez and countless others who were victims of violent “hate crimes” should be completely unacceptable to every human being; because we’re all human beings. It’s up to us to change the paradigm. I hear the world “tolerance” thrown around in the media when it comes to cases like the ones I mentioned above. One of the meanings of tolerance is “the capacity to endure pain or hardship.” Another is “the act of allowing something.” To me, those don’t seem to encompass acceptance, by any definition. So how about this? Instead of saying “we need to tolerate diversity” why not say, “we need to accept diversity.”
Below is video from the funeral of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado. My heart is broken.
Video found via facebook
Message from Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado’s Mom
7:58 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · GLBT|Puerto Rico · 1 Comment
23 Nov 2009Yesterday evening there were vigils across the country to remember and demand justice for Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado. Jorge’s mom, Miriam Mercado, sent a message to all who have supported her and her family at this horrific time and as a mother watching this just broke my heart and made me incredibly proud at the same time. Que triste that we have to lose beloved ones and yet we find new strength as community.
Via / Blabbeando
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 · 2 Comments
19 Nov 2009This 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 ManOn 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 familyWHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2009
12 pmWHERE: 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
9:53 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · chicago|Events|GLBT|Justice|Los Angeles|New York City|Philly|Washington DC · 2 Comments
19 Nov 2009
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
Amherst
Monday November 23, 2009
6:30 pm
Food for Thought Books
106 North Pleasant Street
Bay Area
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
3:30 pm
Mac Arthur and Grand Ave. at Lake Merritt
CONTACT: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Liz Latty
PHONE: (510) 282-5223
EMAIL: morethanavigil@gmail.comChicago
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
4-6 pm
Humboldt ParkLos Angeles
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
8pm-9:30 pm
West Hollywood Corner of Santa Monica and San VicenteNew York City
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
7-9 pm
Hudson Pier 45 at Christopher StreetPhiladelphia
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
7 pm
Love Park 15th and ArchWashington 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.
Organizations Asking Department of Justice to Intervene in Murder Case of Jorge Steven López Mercado
6:41 am By Maegan La Mala · GLBT|Puerto Rico|Violence|youth · Comments Off
17 Nov 2009
Yesterday la Macha wrote about the horrific murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado in Puerto Rico.
Some organizations are calling for the intervention of the United States Department of Justice, especially in light of comments that the local police investigator on the case made in the media:
The local police investigator assigned to the case said to Univisión about the victim: “Someone like that, who does those kind of things, and goes out in public, knows full well that this might happen to him.”…Puerto Rico’s Civil Rights Commission and Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, a local activist organization, have asked the Puerto Rico Police Department to take disciplinary action against Rodriguez. The PRPD has removed the investigator from the case, but local activists plan to protest outside the territorial capital in San Juan on Thursday. They also plan to hold a vigil later this week.
The Puerto Rican government added sexual orientation to its hate crimes laws in 2002, but Serrano complained local police have not used it to prosecute those accused of anti-gay violence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced it will take jurisdiction over the case if local investigators conclude López’s killer or killers murdered him because of his sexual orientation.
Hola!
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