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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Over the past couple of weeks a number of disturbing hate crimes against young gay men have been reported and a newly released report by The Federal Bureau of Investigation states hate crimes based on sexual orientation have the largest increase of nearly 11 percent.
The deaths of 19 year old Jorge Steven López Mercado of Puerto Rico and 16 year old Jason Mattison of Baltimore have been particularly gruesome. Mercado's body was found decapitated, dismembered, and burned while Mattison's body was stabbed repeatedly in the neck and throat and stuffed in a closet to be left for dead.
Are you aware of these stories? If you don't frequent gay blogs then you're probably not since the mainstream media has failed to bring any national attention to these crimes.
Mercado and Mattison were human beings who hadn't even begun to live their lives and were taken away from their loved ones simply based on their sexual orientation.
Contrary to the opinion a few misguided and bigoted individuals, victims are targeted based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression and when these crimes happen its not in our best interest to remain silent because it can happen to any of us.
THE LIVES OF LGBT PEOPLE HAVE VALUE.
When will we as a Christian nation stop promoting biblical based fear and hatred that leads to violence and start embracing God's greatest commandment- love?
It's always wrong to hate but it's never wrong to love.
Fellow blogger Shawn QT and member of The Five Black Guys reenacts what has been an unfortunate and often deadly reality for LGBT identified people or even those who are assumed to be in the video below.
10 Comments:
i just saw the vid over at rod's place and had to come leave a comment. this is a great public service announcement.
November 24, 2009 5:50 PM
Talk about words that hurt...
November 24, 2009 6:01 PM
"Are you aware of these stories? If you don't frequent gay blogs then you're probably not since the mainstream media has failed to bring any national attention to these crimes."
Actually, the death of 19 year old Jorge Steven López Mercado HAS been reported in the mainstream media. It's been reported on CNN and there has been a march on his behalf. Maybe it's because his MOTHER has spoken up in public on his behalf. She has said in a very heartfelt way that she loved him just the way he was.
Jason Mattison's murder, however, has NOT been reported in ANY mainstream media that I am aware of. I wonder why? No one, to my knowledge, has spoken up in public on his behalf. Where are his so-called "loved ones"? Where are the "black gay activists"? Where is the National Black Justice Coalition?
November 24, 2009 6:56 PM
Powerful!!!
November 24, 2009 10:31 PM
Beautifully said. I saw the other posting too and we need more of our bloggers to do PSAs on this topic. People say words how words don't hurt, but my goodness words cut like a knife.
November 25, 2009 7:35 AM
@ELG
So triffling. Jason Mattison's murder was a local criminal case and didnt have the impact of a hate crime such as Lopez's murder has been all over the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, CNN and the tv stations in Maryland. That's pretty mainstream.
And Rod 2.0 broke the story in the gay blogs. You know that because you also leave comments at his site.
There's not much Mattison's family can to raise awareness. This was a murder they most likely could have prevented which is why they aren't saying much publicly. Lopez's murder has bigger national implications because it was a HATE CRIME. But as usual you always criticize black gay activists and bloggers. My question is, what the hell are you doing, Mr. I Believe Black People Caused Prop 8 in California? What are you doing? Darian and Rod are doinga helluva lot. You're just throwing rocks.
Oh and Darian watch this queen. Rod and his readers have read her many times.
smh
November 25, 2009 10:19 AM
@Dalton
"My question is, what the hell are you doing, Mr. I Believe Black People Caused Prop 8 in California? What are you doing? Darian and Rod are doinga helluva lot. You're just throwing rocks."
I just saw your silly, little effort to "read" me. lol
You asked me 'what are you doing'? Are you for real? I don't have to explain ANYTHING to you but I will say the following. There was a period in my life where being an "out" gay activist consumed ALL my time and energy away from my j.o.b. The resistance from straight people was expected (although hurtful), however, constant sniping from other gays (particularly black gay men) was something that contributed to me "retiring" from the gay activism scene.
And what does Prop. 8 have to do with THIS THREAD? Your claim that I "Believe Black People Caused Prop 8 in California" is an outright LIE.
And nobody has EVER "read" me, unless I let 'em. Some things are hardly worth responding to. lol
Darian, you might want to watch people who make up LIES out of nowhere about people they don't know. I reread my intial comment on this thread (@ November 24, 2009 6:56 PM) and I honestly don't know what was so controversial about it to set this character off. Maybe missy is having a bad day but she had better leave me alone.
November 25, 2009 4:00 PM
@ELG:
Re Prop 8 and other comments
Girl, please. I'm not making up any "lies". Read it and weep:
http://sn.im/tfiiw
The comments imply you''ve had a few issues no? Oh and here you are insisting there are NO openly black gay activists or leaders in NEW YORK CITY. You were arguing with Rod and few other black gay men who lived in New York. Loved your explanation of why you thought it was a good idea the NYT failed to find any openly black gay men in Harlem:
http://sn.im/tfiiw
I'm not really sure are you being argumentative, do you forget what you say (and probably don't mean it) or think that you or anyone else can say whatever they want. But I remember these two exchanges vividly because you were called out. You seem to have many issues with black people and fellow black gay men and are ready to blame us for everything.
I agree that many/most black LGBTs haven't stepped up in many instances esp. around hate crimes and gay rights. I think its apples and oranges to compare Lopez to Mattison but you were WRONG to try to give Darian grief over his simply calling attention to the murders. It really comes across as throwing rocks. Srsly.
"And nobody has EVER "read" me, unless I let 'em."
ROFL. If you say so, hon. If you say so.
November 26, 2009 10:28 PM
Darian, Thanks so much for your blog...I recently found you and I´ve cross posted your Thanksgiving Greeting (hopefully it will offer large portions of Hope in Uganda and Nigeria where things are a nasty for LGBT people at the moment) and I´ve also added you to my sidebar feed...you´ve inspired me!
Thanks again,
Leonardo Ricardo
Central America (Previously of Puerto Rico and I appreciate your entry on the murderous hate crime of Jorge López there)
November 27, 2009 3:47 PM
Yeah this is excellent. The ending was most profound. The title sells are far as PSA! I'll be spreading the word!
November 28, 2009 3:56 PM
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