Comments on: Remembering Jorge Steven Mercado, a vigil

By: GLAAD Co-Sponsors Vigil for Jorge Steve Lopez Mercado : glaadBLOG.org

GLAAD Co-Sponsors Vigil for Jorge Steve Lopez Mercado : glaadBLOG.org — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:42:41 +0000

[...] more pictures from the vigil, visit: “Remembering Jorge Steven Mercado, a vigil” [...]

By: Jeremy Lewis

Jeremy Lewis — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:13:24 +0000

The violence of the crime, the extent of it, the harshness, the unfairness, I think it’s understood that with or without any emotional wellsprings we all are deeply disturbed and are mourning Mercado’s murder.

Thanks for covering the event.

By: Scott Anthony Evans

Scott Anthony Evans — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:43:56 +0000

Thank you very much for covering our event, but the work is not yet over. Please keep track of progress at:

http://mercado-vigil.tumblr.com/

I am right in the middle of creating an email campaign directed at Puerto Rican governor Juan Fortuño and US Attorney General Eric Holder. This campaign will demand the application of hate crimes provisions to the murderer’s current first-degree murder charges.

By: homoneurotic

homoneurotic — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:00:42 +0000

@Your Arsenal

I completely agree with you. Sunday was a tough night for me, because I couldn’t attend the event. I’m angry as well, but I’m not sure 100% where or how to channel that anger. Who will listen? Last night I had dinner with a man who said he has “no political interests.” It made me sad to hear it.

I find only a small amount of solace in a speech given by Harvey Milk in 1978 after the defeat of Prop 6 in California.

———————————-

Harvey Milk | November 7, 1978

To the gay community all over this state my message to you is so far a lot of people joined us and rejected proposition 6 and now we owe them something.

We owe them to continue the education campaign that took place. We must destroy the myths once and for all — shatter them. We must continue to speak out and most importantly — most importantly — every gay person must come out.

As difficult as it is you must tell you immediate family you must tell your relatives. You must tell your friends — if indeed they are your friends — you must tell your neighbors. You must tell the people you work with. You must tell the people at the stores you shop in. And once they realize that we are indeed their children that we are indeed everywhere — every myth every lie every innuendo will be destroyed once and for all.

And once you do, you will feel so much better.

By: Your Arsenal

Your Arsenal — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:55:42 +0000

My feelings are simple; pure anger! I am sickened that in this day and age we (as a specific group) have to resort to anonymity and repressed feelings out of fear for our lives. This is just one of several examples in our community where we have been exploited, taken advantage of and in some cases murdered.. MURDERED!!!!
As a group we need to take more repsonisbility for ourselves. We need more of a community and a zero tolerance policy. Maybe its time we bash back!!!! We need REAL PRIDE which extends beyond a summer parade, meetings at gay bars and a few candlelight vigils. Our focus in the media has always leaned towards two stereotypes the “victim” and the comic foil. How can me be taken seriously as a group if our priorities are Lady Gaga and Marc Jacobs and outings to Mr. Black.
In my opinion this boy should not die in vain. It should be a lesson to us ALL to WAKE UP and be accountable for ourselves, our community and our representation. Because no one is going to do it for us.

By: hadjalexiou

hadjalexiou — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:34:49 +0000

Hey — I appreciate your comment. I was trying to report on the vigil itself. I didn’t take the platform here because I thought that, perhaps, the facts themselves said enough. The little bit of editorializing aside.

But I certainly understand why you feel that way. I do feel very strongly about this crime and what it means. But I invite you, as well, to post your feelings about it! Feel free to take this platform!

By: Your Arsenal

Your Arsenal — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:03:32 +0000

What a great opportunity to write something emotionally charged. A topic like this extends to all our readers. I hate to admit it but i am disappointed by the lack of feeling here. There is room for good op-ed journalism that did not hit the mark.