Human Rights Campaign Again Blasts Proposal to Remove LGBTs from Puerto Rico Hate Crimes Law

The country's largest LGBT rights organization has once again blasted a proposed provision of Puerto Rico's new penal code that would eliminate sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and other categories from the island's hate crimes law.

“It would be unconscionable for Puerto Rico’s leaders to remove sexual orientation and gender identity from existing hate crime protections,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “This sends the dangerous message that it is acceptable to harass or harm LGBT people and would leave victims of hate crimes with no legal recourse. I urge Puerto Rico’s lawmakers not only to reject this homophobic legislation, but to push more aggressively to protect the well-being of LGBT Puerto Ricans.”

Singer Ricky Martin, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez are among those who have publicly spoken out against the proposed provision. Jorge Sepulveda posted a petition to Change.org late on Wednesday, Dec. 7, that urges Puerto Rican lawmakers to reject the measure.

"It is ironic that in the same week, we see President Obama and Hillary Clinton going to international groups and telling them to pass more laws to protect minorities, then in Puerto Rico you see the government doing the exact opposite," he told Boy in Bushwick earlier on Thursday, Dec. 8. "It’s shameful to see that."

Puerto Rico lawmakers are poised to debate the proposed provision when they consider the revised penal code during a special legislative session this week. Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz criticized House Judiciary Committee President Liza Fernández’s criticism of the proposed amended hate crimes law in an interview with Vocero on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Gutierrez urged Attorney General Eric Holder earlier on Thursday that he create a federal task force to investigate and prosecute hate crimes on the island. The U.S. Department of Justice cited the Puerto Rico Police Department's inadequate response to hate crimes as one of the PRPD's endemic deficiencies in a scathing report it issued in September. The Puerto Rico Department of Justice's own statistics indicate that prosecutors have not convicted anyone under the island's hate crimes law.

"If Puerto Rico doesn't want to protect its residents from attacks, violence and murder, then the federal authorities need to step in and ensure the most basic rights of life and liberty are protected," wrote Gutierrez.

LGBT Americans need more than a BFF

The Human Rights Campaign certainly knows how to throw an extravagant party for itself every October in Washington, D.C., but does this carefully choreographed gala actually accomplish anything?

Andres and I were genuinely thrilled to see Ricky Martin take the stage at the start of the nearly four-hour affair. He told those inside the Washington Convention Center he wants “to add my voice to yours” and he is “so happy to be part of this community.” The predictable flurry of text messages and tweets to my editor, colleagues and friends in New York City followed, but the emotional testimony the gay Puerto Rican heart throb provided truly proved far more powerful than simple words can describe.



Mo’Nique’s equally heart-felt and equally compelling speech as she introduced director Lee Daniels and Pink’s challenge to bullies to come find her if they “want to take their anger out on someone” provided additional highlights as the evening dragged on. Senior White House advisor Valerie Jarrett’s comments on the rash of recent LGBT teenager suicides and the administration’s commitment to repeal the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian soldiers were certainly nice gestures. Once again, however, did they actually accomplish anything?

The last few weeks have certainly brought sadness, anger and outrage to those within the movement for LGBT rights and their many supporters. The seemingly endless headlines about teenagers taking their own lives because they faced endless torment over their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression; yet more reported hate crimes in New York City; and partisan politics that derailed debate on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, among other things, have certainly taken their toll. And while it is entirely appropriate for people to enjoy themselves at an HRC dinner, it takes far more than endless backslapping, choreographed moments designed to put someone’s idea of the community’s best face forward and a California teenager’s “Joe (Solmonese) is possibly even a BFF” proclamation to show the country LGBT Americans deserve more than a simple seat at the table.

Ricky Martin's coming out resonates outside the United States

My story on how Ricky Martin's coming out could prove a watershed moment for LGBT Latinos has already received nearly 11,000 hits on the EDGE network, but here's the story for those who may want to read it.


Ricky Martin's coming out could prove a "watershed moment" for LGBT Puerto Ricans
EDGE on the Net
March 30, 2010

Even though Ricky Martin’s sexual orientation was not a very well-kept secret, his decision to come out could prove to be a watershed moment for LGBT Puerto Ricans.

Pedro Julio Serrano of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s described yesterday’s announcement as "a glorious day for the Puerto Rican LGBT communities."

"He is the biggest star from Latin America and from Puerto Rico to come out; it’s a huge deal," he told EDGE. "It is a watershed moment."

Jarrett T. Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, agreed.

"His decision to model this kind of openness and honesty can lead to greater acceptance for countless gay people in the [United States,] in Latin America and worldwide," he said.

Puerto Rican newspapers and other media outlets quickly posted stories to their Web sites once Martin came out on his Web site on Monday, March 29. El Nuevo Día proclaimed "Ricky Martin confesses his homosexuality," while Primera Hora announced "Ricky Martin accepts his homosexuality." Both publications posted a series of reactions from celebrities and others around the world to the news. And Nuevo Dia interviewed Martin’s brother.

"He is my brother, if he is happy, I will also be happy," Eric Martin said.

Not everyone shared the younger Martin’s acceptance.

"Widelia" commented under a Primera Hora story people "would not be talking so much about this" if "homosexuality were normal." "Eduardo" questioned why Martin’s coming out has received so much attention, but other Primera Hora readers applauded his decision.

"Ricky Martin will be the same Ricky Martin to me, homosexual or not," "Smoochy" wrote. "This does not change the fact he is a good person and always has been. I applaud (his decision) to declare (his homosexuality) publicly, for his personal satisfaction in the moment in which he decided to do it."

Singer Alejandro Sanz, Daddy Yankee, blogger Perez Hilton, Juanes, journalist María Celeste Arrarás and other celebrities quickly praised Martin’s decision.

"One more time, Ricky Martin is an example of bravery, courage and determination," Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón said in a statement posted on Primera Hora’s Web site.

Martin described himself as a human rights activist in an op-ed Nuevo Día published in December in response to gay teenager Jorge Steven López Mercado’s brutal murder. He made no mention of his own sexual orientation, but Serrano told EDGE he hopes Martin will use his celebrity to advance LGBT rights in his homeland.

"But for today, we celebrate that Ricky is one of us."

Ricky Martin comes out

Putting to rest consistent rumors about his sexual orientation, Ricky Martin announced on his blog earlier today he is "a fortunate homosexual man."

"I am very blessed to be who I am," the Puerto Rican singer wrote.

Martin spoke out against Jorge Steven López Mercado's death in an op-ed el Nuevo Dia published on Dec. 20. And in what appears to have been a potential prelude to his own personal torment, he wrote mere tolerance of those who are different is simply not enough.

"If we accept each other, humanity will come together," Martin said.

Congratulations Ricky!

Ricky Martin speaks out against hate crimes, urges acceptance

Ricky Martin specifically mentioned Jorge Steven López Mercado, murdered Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero, Matthew Shepard and other hate crimes victims in an op-ed el Nuevo Dia published earlier today.

The Puerto Rican singer, who has faced consistent questions about his own sexual orientation over the years, said headlines about López's brutal murder near Cayey last month and other recent murders have shaken him.

"The deaths of James Byrd, like that of Matthew Shepard, Jorge Steven López, Marcelo Lucero and Luis Ramírez, like other victims of violent hate crimes, should be unacceptable to all human beings; because we are all human beings," Martin said.

He further wrote he feels mere tolerance of those who are different is simply not enough.

"If we accept each other, humanity will come together," Martin wrote. "And if humanity comes together, equality for human rights will become a reality. If equality for human rights becomes a reality, peace will be within our reach."

Martin is the latest Puerto Rican celebrity who has spoken out against hate crimes since Juan A. Martínez Matos murdered López and dumped his decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body along a remote roadside on Nov. 13. Olga Tañón discussed the case on her weekly talk show earlier this month. And reggaeton artist René Pérez and Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones spoke out against López's murder after they attended a San Juan vigil late last month.