Paterson bans discrimination against transgender New York state employees

Governor David Paterson received a standing ovation at the LGBT Community Center in lower Manhattan earlier today as he signed an executive order to ban discrimination against transgender state employees.

"For far too long... the transgender community has had to wait for the same equality others enjoy based on employment," he said. "That ends today."



Governor David Paterson signs the executive order.

Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle and Michael Silverman of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund were among those who joined state Sen. Tom Duane, state Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Dick Gottfried, Danny O'Donnell and other elected officials on stage as Paterson signed the directive.

"Transgender people, like all New Yorkers, need stability, and it starts in the workplace," Melissa Sklarz, director of the New York Transgender Rights Organization, said.

Paterson's executive order makes New York the seventh state to specifically ban discrimination against trans public employees. His mandate also came as an arguably much needed shot in the arm for activists who continue to lobby state lawmakers to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, marriage for same-sex coupes and the Dignity in All Schools Act.

"Today is a good first step," Van Capelle said. "It is not the end of our fight."



From right; Michael Silverman of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and Pauline Park of the New York Association for Gender Rights and Advocacy stand alongside Gov. David Paterson.



State Sen. Tom Duane applauds Gov. David Paterson.



Melissa Sklarz of the New York Transgender Rights Organization.

Paterson to ban discrimination against transgender New York State employees

Boy in Bushwick has learned Gov. David Paterson will sign an executive order tomorrow that will ban discrimination against transgender state employees.

The governor is scheduled to sign the order tomorrow morning at the LGBT Community Center in lower Manhattan. Michael Silverman, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, praised the move.

"This executive order will ensure that hard-working transgender employees of New York State can work without fear of discrimination, and provide for themselves and their families," he said. “We applaud [Gov.] Paterson for taking this important step for transgender equal rights.”

Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania currently ban discrimination against their public employees based gender identity and expression. The federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act remains stalled in Congress, but Dru Levasseur of Lambda Legal told the New York Times he feels the state will once again be at the forefront of what he described as states "that are taking the lead on workplace fairness."

Prominent Honduran gay activist murdered

Amnesty International and other organizations have called upon the Honduran government to investigate the murder of a prominent LGBT activist in Tegucigalpa late Sunday night.

A gunman reportedly shot Walter Tróchez in the chest late Sunday night as he walked home through the center of the Honduran capital. Amnesty International said on its Web site a group of masked men had tried to kidnap Tróchez earlier this month in search of those they felt opposed President Manuel Zelaya's ouster from power earlier this year. The human rights organization said the four men forced Tróchez into their man, hooded him and repeatedly pistol-whipped him in the face as they threatened to kill him.

"The murder of Walter Tróchez must be investigated immediately and those responsible brought to justice." Kerrie Howard, Americas deputy director for Amnesty International, said. "It is essential that human rights defenders and opposition activists are able to exercise freedom of expression without fearing threats or attacks."

Tróchez had documented what Amnesty International further described as "human rights violations during protests against" the June 28 coup. Doug Ireland's blog contains further information about Tróchez's work and Honduran reaction to his murder.

Prominent HIV/AIDS activist Dennis deLeon passes away

Prominent New York HIV/AIDS activist Dennis deLeon passed away earlier today in Manhattan. He was 61.

“Dennis was a force to be reckoned with," Ernesto Loperena, former board chair of the Latino Commission on AIDS, said. "If there was a social justice issue that needed to be addressed you knew you wanted Dennis on your side. His work and his voice were respected nationwide and there was no greater champion for Latinos living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. He will be greatly missed.”

A former New York City Human Rights Commissioner, deLeon publicly disclosed his status as a person living with the virus in an op-ed the New York Times published in May 1993. He became president of the Latino Commission on AIDS a year later. And deLeon led the organization until earlier this year.

“For the better part of the past two decades, Dennis deLeon has worked tirelessly to end discrimination against HIV-positive individuals and expand access to care for all communities, and I was saddened to learn of his passing this morning," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn described deLeon as "a friend, a mentor, an advocate, a trailblazer and a hero."

“A pioneer in his work, Dennis deLeon has left a legacy in the LGBT community, the HIV/AIDS community and the Latino community," she continued. "His work in each community was valiant and he was one of the hardest workers and most committed people I ever had the privilege of working with on any issue."

Latino Commission on AIDS president Guillermo Chacon further applauded his former boss.

“It will be a challenge to pick up the mantle Dennis has left for us at the Commission," he said. "Dennis was a friend, a mentor and an example of what a national leader should be. He is a testament to the human spirit and the power of perseverance. His work and his dedication to our community will not be forgotten."

DeLeon's partner of 32 years, Bruce Kiernan, survives him alongside his father, sister, stepmother and other family members.

Bushwick marks first anniversary of José Sucuzhañay’s death

Dozens of Bushwick residents and relatives of hate crimes victims were among those at Make the Road New York earlier today who marked the first anniversary of José Sucuzhañay’s death.

“I’m here today with much sadness,” Diego Sucuzhañay said in Spanish. “This is the season we lost our beloved brother. He was the leader of our family.”

Sucuzhañay further spoke about the impact his brother’s murder has had on his young niece and nephew.

“This year, José’s kids will not receive the Merry Christmas their dad always gave them,” he said.

Hakim Scott and Keith Phoenix allegedly used anti-gay and anti-Latino slurs as they beat José Sucuzhañay with a baseball bat and broken bottles on Dec. 7, 2008, as he and his brother Romel walked arm and arm near the corner of Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place. The Ecuadorian immigrant died in a Queens hospital two days later. And hundreds of people marched down Myrtle Avenue less than a week after José Sucuzhañay’s death to demand justice.

“Hate in my community is entirely unacceptable,” City Councilmember Diana Reyna [D-Bushwick] said.

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez agreed as she spoke of the need for the White House to pass what she described as comprehensive immigration reform.

“This is our moral obligation,” she said. “I cannot look in the eye the mother José or [Marcelo] Lucero, who was killed on Long Island [in Nov. 2008]… and say I’m sorry this is not the right time. It is the right time.”

This vigil came less than a week after news two bouncers at a Jackson Heights bar attacked a prominent gay activist broke. And it also comes roughly a month after Puerto Rican authorities found Jorge Steven López Mercado’s decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body along a remote roadside near Cayey.

Mario Vega suffered serious brain injuries after three men attacked him near his Bushwick apartment in late September. And police maintain Daniel Aleman and Daniel Rodriguez, Jr., nearly beat openly gay Jack Price to death outside a College Point deli on Oct. 9.

Diego Sucuzhañay told Boy in Bushwick after the vigil he feels immigrant and LGBT advocacy organizations have a responsibility to work together to end hate crimes

“We maybe have different priorities, but we are two groups being targeted by hate right now,” he said. “We are suffering the same. We are fighting for human rights. We need stop being treated as second class citizens.”



Diego Sucuzhañay speaks about his brother José's murder.



Members of the New York City Anti-Violence Project lead a candlelight vigil.



Diego Sucuzhañay.



Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez



From left: Joselo Lucero and Diego Sucuzhañay.



No more hate violence!



Outside Make the Road New York's Bushwick office.

Jackson Heights bar bouncers allegedly beat prominent gay activist

Roughly two months after two men allegedly beat a College Point man into a coma, bouncers at a Jackson Heights bar reportedly assaulted a prominent local activist because he was dancing with his partner.

Tarlach MacNiallais of the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization has alleged two security guards at Guadalajara de Noche on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights assaulted him early Saturday, Dec. 5. Blogs and local media reported the two men wrestled MacNiallais to the ground and dragged him off the dance floor before they punched and kicked him. The security guards also allegedly smashed a chair over MacNiallais' head.

This attack is the latest in a series of anti-LGBT assaults that have rocked Queens in recent months.

Police contend Daniel Rodriguez, 21, and Daniel Aleman, 26, nearly beat Jack Price, 49, to death outside a College Point deli on Oct. 8 because of his sexual orientation.



Video courtesy of the Associated Press

A Queens County grand jury indicted Trinidad Tapia, 19, and Gilberto Ortiz, 32, on hate crimes charges late last month after they allegedly beat Leslie Mora, who is transgender, with a belt buckle as she walked along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights on June 19. And the New York Police Department maintains Nathaniel Mims, 25, and Rasheed Thomas, 22, shouted anti-gay slurs at Carmella Etienne, who is also trans, before they attacked her with rocks and empty beer bottles as she walked home from a store near her St. Albans apartment on July 8.

Activist Brendan Fay and openly City Councilmember-elect Danny Dromm [D-Jackson Heights] both expressed to Boy in Bushwick their outrage over the alleged incident at Guadalajara de Noche. MacNiallais did not immediately return request for comment, but the NYPD continues to investigate his allegations.

Olga Tañón discusses homophobia, Jorge Steven López Mercado's murder

Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón discussed homophobia and Jorge Steven López Mercado's gruesome murder last night on her weekly talk show.

Pedro Julio Serrano was among those who appeared on Hablemos D. The audio is a bit muffled at times, but the entire segment in Spanish is posted below.



The show comes days after Tañón publicly spoke out against homophobia and the gay teenager's gruesome murder last month near Cayey.

"Look, to be gay is nothing bad," she said to Primera Hora as translated from Spanish. "Sexual orientation is nothing bad, and it shouldn’t be used as a reason to castigate or discriminate."

Suspect in gay Puerto Rican teenager’s murder ordered to undergo psychological evaluation

A Puerto Rican judge has ordered the man who has reportedly confessed to the gruesome murder of a gay teenager last month to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Judge Camila Jusino accepted state psychologist Rafael Cabrera's recommendation Juan J. Martínez Matos remain under evaluation at a psychiatric hospital in Rio Piedras to determine whether the accused killer is competent to stand trial.

Matos is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 13.

Pride Agenda endorses José Peralta for State Senate

As LGBT activists appear poised to target those who opposed a bill that would have allowed gays and lesbians to marry, the Empire State Pride Agenda announced this morning it has endorsed a Queens assemblyman who seeks to unseat embattled state Sen. Hiram Monserrate [D-Jackson Heights.]

Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle said in a statement that announced his organization's decision to endorse Assemblymember José Peralta [D-Jackson Heights] he feels "Queens needs a new state Senator--one with integrity and honor, and who stands up for the rights of all New Yorkers."

“José Peralta has demonstrated time and time again that he is a champion of equality and justice for all New Yorkers and has consistently represented the interests of his district in the New York State Assembly,” Van Capelle said. “His record on LGBT issues demonstrates that he does not duck-and-run when our bills come up for a vote. He has stood up for us in the Assembly, and we will stand with him in his race for the state Senate.”

Monserrate, who was convicted in October of misdemeanor assault against his girlfriend, is one of eight Democrats who voted against the marriage bill that went before the state Senate last week. This vote was arguably the last straw among the embattled senator's growing list of detractors. And the Peralta endorsement is the latest indication Monserrate and others who opposed the marriage bill remain squarely in the electoral cross hairs of LGBT activists and their supporters.

“Over the next several months, the Pride Agenda will roll out
endorsements of candidates who support equality and will challenge sitting
members of the state Senate on both sides of the aisle whose record on equality
is a stain on New York,” Van Capelle said.

Albany jury convicts former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno of corruption

An Albany jury yesterday found former New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno [R-Saratoga Springs] guilty on two federal corruption charges.

The panel acquitted Bruno on five other charges, but Ken Lovett of the Daily News correctly described the conviction as "the guilty verdict heard 'round the state'" because it essentially amounts to an indictment of the way Albany lawmakers have conducted themselves for decades.

The jury found Bruno guilty of two counts of mail fraud in connection with various 'consulting' work he did for Leonard Fassler and other businessmen and companies during his legislative tenure. The former Senate Majority Leader, who retired last year, reportedly made $3.2 million from his association with Fassler and other clients.

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Sharpe will sentence Bruno on March 31. The former lawmaker faces up to 20 years in prison, but he has vowed to appeal his conviction.

New Jersey Senate committee approves bill to allow gays and lesbians to marry

The New Jersey state Senate's Judiciary Committee voted 7-6 last night to approve a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to marry.

The measure will go before the full Senate on Thursday. And Steven Goldstein, executive director of Garden State Equality, remained optimistic about the chances lawmakers would approve the bill.

"The marriage equality movement in America starts again right here," he told supporters in Trenton.

The committee's vote came less than a week after the New York State Senate defeated a bill that would have allowed gays and lesbians to marry in the Empire State. And it also comes a little more than a month after Maine voters approved a referendum that overturned their state's law that had allowed nuptials for same-sex couples.



It remains unclear as to whether the bill has enough support in the New Jersey state Senate to pass. It remains obvious, however, the Garden State could provide the movement for marriage for gays and lesbians a desperately needed shot in the arm after what has been a disastrous few weeks. Stay tuned...

José Sucuzhañay memorial service to take place in Bushwick on Dec. 12

Transgender woman sues Orlando McDonald's for discrimination

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund announced earlier today it has filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Rights against an Orlando area McDonald's after its manager allegedly refused to hire Zikerria Bellamy because she is transgender.

Bellamy, 17, applied online for a shift manager position in July. The teenager said the franchise's manager learned she is transgender and left a homophobic voice mail on her cell phone a few weeks later.



Florida law does not specifically address discrimination based on gender identity, the state's administrative agencies have concluded transgender Floridians are protected under the Florida Human Rights Act's prohibitions on sex and disability discrimination. Lawmakers last month also introduced the Competitive Workforce Bill, which would add both gender identity and sexual orientation to the Florida Civil Rights Act.

McDonald's has yet to respond to Bellamy's allegation.

A sad anniversary

Today marks a year since Hakeem Scott and Keith Phoenix allegedly attacked Ecuadorian immigrant José Sucuzhañay near the corner of Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place.

The two men reportedly used anti-gay and anti-Latino slurs as they beat Sucuzhañay early Dec. 7, 2008, with a baseball bat and broken bottles as he and his brother Romel walked home arm-and-arm from a local party. Sucuzhañay, whose two young children live in his homeland, succumb to his injuries two days later at a Queens hospital.

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Congressman Anthony Weiner, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and City Comptroller Bill Thompson were among the hundreds of people who marched through Bushwick shortly after Sucuzhañay’s death. And the New York Police Department arrested Scott and Phoenix earlier this year.

The two men will go on trial sometime next year, but the unfortunate fact remains hate crimes based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity have become an all too common aspect of my reportage. These include LaTeisha Green of Syracuse, Jack Price of College Point, Leslie Mora and Carmella Etienne of Jackson Heights and Jorge Steven López Mercado of Puerto Rico.

Juan A. Martínez Matos, who reportedly confessed to Puerto Rican prosecutors he killed López and subsequently decapitated, dismembered and partially burned the gay teenager’s body last month, returns to court on Wednesday for his preliminary hearing.

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law in late October that added both sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to federal hate crimes laws, but these statutes alone will arguably not curb the increasing rates of anti-LGBT violence that continue to plague this country. And on this sad anniversary, Myriam Mercado’s own words perhaps provide this Bushwick resident with the most comfort: El amor vence el odio. Love conquers hate.

Cuban blogosphere emerges

Even though the bulk of my recent work has focused on the push to secure marriage for same-sex couples, hate crimes and other LGBT-specific issues, international affairs, multiculturalism, socio-economics and other topics are among those in which I remain acutely interested.

On this thread, I was quite frankly shocked to receive an instant message from a blogger in Havana a few weeks ago after I e-mailed him about his blog Fotos desde Cuba. I have never experienced the struggles many Cubans face every day on the island, but Pedro's pictures certainly provide a glimpse into a country and a society of which a majority of Americans remain unaware.



Signs of the Cuban Revolution in Havana.



A protest in Vedado on Nov. 20.



An advertisement for a transgender festival in Havana late last month.



Two men sit along Havana's oceanfront.

Yoani Sánchez is perhaps Cuba's most recognized blogger. President Barack Obama answered seven questions she sent to him and Cuban President Raúl Castro last month. Castro has yet to respond to Sánchez's questions, but she blogged on Generación Y three Cuban security agents in street clothes detained and beat her last month as she was on her way to attend a march.

Sánchez's blog links to other bloggers around the country.

Hundreds rally in Union Square against state Senate marriage vote

Governor David Paterson, state Sen. Tom Duane [D-Chelsea] and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn were among the hundreds who gathered in Union Square earlier tonight to protest the state Senate's vote yesterday against a bill that would have allowed gays and lesbians to marry.

"I'm angry at the betrayal of people who are supposed to be standing up for our civil rights," Duane proclaimed as the crowd cheered. "The Democrats failed us in the Senate."

Six of the eight Democrats who opposed the bill--state Sens. Joseph Addabbo, Jr., Ruben Diaz, Sr., Shirley Huntley, Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate and George Onorato--are from the five boroughs. Diaz is the only lawmaker who spoke against the marriage bill on the Senate floor yesterday. And Duane told Boy in Bushwick the 37 others who opposed the proposed legislation have yet to provide him with a reason they decided to vote against it.

"They have no good reason," he added. "There is no excuse for saying no."



Governor David Paterson speaks to the crowd.

New Yorkers gather in Times Square to protest marriage vote

Multiple deadlines prevented me from going to Times Square earlier tonight, but hundreds gathered in Duffy Square to protest the New York State Senate's 24-36 vote against a bill that would have allowed gays and lesbians to marry.

Andres Duque graciously allowed Boy in Bushwick to post some pictures he took during the protest. Fellow blogger Joe Jervis was among those who were also there.

Another protest is scheduled to take place in Union Square tomorrow afternoon.

New York State Senate rejects marriage bill

The New York State Senate voted 24-38 today against a bill that would have allowed gays and lesbians to marry in the Empire State.

No New York marriage vote tonight

The New York State Senate has adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

New York State Senate could vote late tonight on marriage bill

Activists have begun to travel to Albany ahead of a possible vote later tonight on a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to marry in New York State.

An Albany source confirmed the possibility to Boy in Bushwick earlier this afternoon. The source said lawmakers could potentially vote on the proposed legislation after they address the state's deficit reduction plan and farmers' bill. Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News further reported state Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. [D-Bronx,] who vigorously opposes any move to allow marriage for same-sex couples, had retired to his office to pray.

A spokesperson for state Sen. Tom Duane [D-Chelsea] declined comment on the reports, but it remains unclear as to whether the bill has enough support in the state Senate to pass. It appears clear, however, bill proponents will need bi-partisan support if they have any hope of passage.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn expressed her optimism about bi-partisan support during an interview with WNBC before she left for Albany.

"The right thing to do is to have a vote," Quinn said. "This is an issue where the state has the power to do this. This is an emotional personal issue and an issue where you have to say your position; say it in public."

The session is slated to begin at 9 p.m.

New York State marriage vote eminent?

We have all been down this road before, but the blogosphere is abuzz this morning with news the New York State Senate may vote later today on a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to marry.

A spokesperson for state Sen. Dale Volker [R-Depew] discussed the possibility of a vote with a Buffalo television station earlier this morning. An activist expressed similar optimism to Boy in Bushwick earlier today. And the National Organization for Marriage continues to urge its supporters to contact Albany lawmakers and urge them to oppose the proposed legislation.

Governor David Paterson and Albany lawmakers continue to grapple with the state's massive budget deficit, and so it's reasonable to conclude a marriage vote will not happen until they reach an agreement. That said, Albany has proven time and time again it is simply foolish to believe any speculation until something actually happens.

Stay tuned...

Boy in Bushwick commemorates World AIDS Day

Puerto Rican activist maintains murdered teenager identified as gay

As Jorge Steven López Mercado's family continues to mourn the teenager's death, activist Pedro Julio Serrano continues to insist the 19-year-old identified himself as a gay man.

"He was very comfortable in his own skin, he loved to cross gender boundaries and he was accepted as such by his friends, his partner and his own parents," Serrano, who remains in Puerto Rico and continues to counsel López's family, wrote on a blog he posted on Nov. 27. "His mom, Myriam Mercado, knowing that his son used hair extensions as part of his look, even told the press in Puerto Rico, "Behind that wig and those boots, there was a human being, a very much loved son, a brother and a friend."

Serrano further alluded to activists, bloggers and others who suggested Juan A. Martínez Matos murdered López and subsequently decapitated, dismembered and partially burned his body near Cayey earlier this month in an act of anti-transgender violence.

"I understand the politics behind identifying a hate crime victim as trans when part of his or her expression does not conform to his or her sex, but sometimes we must bend the rules to accommodate the cultural and societal differences," he wrote. "I would like to ask for respect of our cultural and societal differences from our friends in the U.S. In our Puerto Rican culture, people who are gender nonconforming, gender variant or gender queer are not considered trans. We only consider as transgender or transsexual, people who identify as such. And we respect that."

Puerto Rican law enforcement officials announced last week they would investigate López's murder as a hate crime, but Serrano once again stressed acceptance and unity among LGBTs during an impromptu late night speech at Krash in Santurce over the weekend in which he criticizes the crowd for anti-trans comments some made in the wake of López's gruesome death.



"Let's respect everyone, let's open spaces for everyone and let's achieve a Puerto Rico for all," he said.

Massachusetts Episcopal bishop allows priests to officiate same-sex weddings

More than five years after gays and lesbians began to legally marry in the Bay State, the bishop who oversees Episcopalian priests in Eastern Massachusetts officially granted them permission to officiate nuptials for same-sex couples.

Bishop M. Thomas Shaw III's decision comes a month after local clergy and parishioners endorsed a resolution that expressed hope he would allow priests within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to officiate these weddings. He further discussed his decision in an interview with the Boston Globe.

"The time has come," Shaw said. "It’s time for us to offer to gay and lesbian people the same sacrament of fidelity that we offer to the heterosexual world."

Shaw's decision comes more than six years after New Hampshire Episcopalians consecrated openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson. And it is sure to further stoke the internal debate within both the American Episcopal Church and the broader Anglican Communion over the role gays and lesbians will continue to play and whether priests should allow same-sex couples to marry.

The Rev. Anne C. Fowler of Jamaica Plain was among those who applauded Shaw's decision to the Globe.

Thousands march against hate crimes in Puerto Rico

More than a thousand people marched through the streets of San Juan last night to pay tribute to Jorge Steven López Mercado and to demand an end to hate crimes.

"Today a new Puerto Rico that is not goint to tolerate any anti-gay hate crimes is born," Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force said as Nuevo Dia reported. "The voices of intolerance are realizing their hateful discourse does not resonate with the public."

López's family, friends and religious leaders were among those who took part.

Photos courtesy of Pedro Julio Serrano.

Puerto Rican authorities agree to investigate Jorge Steven López Mercado's murder as a hate crime

Puerto Rican authorities have agreed to investigate Jorge Steven López Mercado's murder as a hate crime after they met with local representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Nuevo Dia reported William Ramírez, executive director of the ACLU and of the University of Puerto Rico's Legal Clinic, pointed out to Puerto Rico Department of Justice Secretary Antonio Sagardía the Commonwealth has a history of "not investigating hate crimes cases" like the one he said to which Juan A. Martínez Matos reportedly has confessed.

"The ACLU has tried to get the government to accept its responsibility to investigate cases... that are hate crimes, particularly that of young Jorge Steven López Mercado," Ramírez said in a statement. "We should not be satisfied with the possibility the federal government will do what our government is not interested in doing; which is to protect every citizen."

Activists on Puerto Rico and around the country have repeatedly called upon local authorities to charge Matos under Puerto Rico's hate crimes law, which includes sexual orientation. They have also blasted investigator Ángel Rodríguez Colón's assertion López somehow contributed to his own death. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in San Juan has not ruled out the possibility of additional federal charges in the case.

Jorge Steven López Mercado's family and friends lay him to rest

Jorge Steven López Mercado's friends and family laid him to rest earlier today in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.

"The support we have received from the public and Steven's friends has given us the strength to bear this moment of such horrible pain," Lopez's aunt Rubi Mercado told el Nuevo Dia between tears (as translated from Spanish into English.) "I asked Steven with his wings from heaven to help us carry on without having him by our side."

El Nuevo Dia further reported López's aunt and his ex-boyfriend, Luis Rivera, opened the urn that contained the murdered teen's ashes and placed a necklace and a white rose inside it at the end of the funeral Mass. The newspaper further reported López's parents hugged their son's friends and cried.

"We definitely hope people and society wake up and demand justice," López's friend José Alicea told el Nuevo Dia (as translated from Spanish into English.)

López's friends carried balloons and white roses as they walked to the cemetery. Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" played during the procession.

Despedida de duelo de Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado
Uploaded by pjserrano. - Discover LGBT videos.

Hundreds attend New York vigil for Jorge Steven Lopez and Jason Mattison, Jr.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, City Councilmember-elect Danny Dromm, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation president Jarrett T. Barrios and fashion designer Malan Breton were among the hundreds who attended a vigil on the Christopher Street Pier earlier tonight in honor of Jorge Steven López and Jason Mattison, Jr., on the Christopher Street Pier earlier tonight.

This gathering was one of 20 that took place across the country.

Jorge Steven López's mother breaks her silence

As people around the country prepare to hold memorials and vigils to remember Jorge Steven López and Jason Mattison, Jr., an openly gay 15-year-old who was raped and killed in Baltimore earlier this month, López's mother has begun to break her silence.

"When my son told me he was gay, I told him, 'Now, I love you more,'" Miriam Mercado said in a statement. "I want to tell the world that hatred is not born with human beings, it is a seed that is planted by adults and is fostered creating a climate of intolerance and violence. We must change our ways and understand that anyone... could have been my son. And I want everybody to know that Jorge Steven was a very much loved son."

López's funeral begins later this morning in Toa Alta. And his family and friends will lay him to rest tomorrow.

Jorge Steven López to be laid to rest Monday

Puerto Rico Para Tod@s and Jorge Steven López's family have announced the murdered gay teenager's funeral will begin tomorrow in Toa Alta.

In addition, the LGBT advocacy organization has announced it plans to hold a vigil against hate crimes in San Juan on Wednesday, Nov. 25. A march will begin at 6 p.m. in front of the Department of Justice, and it will end at Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera.

Local authorities have yet to decide whether to charge Juan A. Martinez Matos under the territory's hate crimes statute. The 26-year-old has confessed to investigators and local media he killed López after he discovered he was actually a man after he said he solicited him for sex on a Caguas street. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has maintained it could bring federal hate crimes charges against Matos if Puerto Rican authorities fail to do so.

Meanwhile, Pedro Julio Serrano posted to his Facebook page pictures of his meeting with López's parents, Miriam Mercado and Jorge López, Sr., earlier today. Primera Hora also posted two videos of tributes that took place at Krash in Santurce.



Miriam Mercado flashes her late son's trademark gesture with Pedro Julio Serrano earlier today.

Activists plan massive Puerto Rico vigil in honor of Jorge Steven López

As vigils and other memorials for Jorge Steven López continue to pop up around the country, Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force tells Boy in Bushwick he expects the murdered teen's family and thousands of others to march through the streets of San Juan ahead of a vigil on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Hundreds of people took part in a march through the Puerto Rican capital last night to demand an end to homophobia. Serrano stressed López family, with whom he said he remains in constant contact, fully accepted the openly gay teenager--López's ex-boyfriend continues to speak publicly on the family's behalf.

"It has been devastating for the family, but they are comforted... in part by the overwhelming support they've received not only for the LGBT community and Puerto Rico," Serrano said.

Serrano further pointed out what he described as a "deafening silence" from the island's political and religious leaders over López's death. New York Congressmembers José Serrano and Nydia Velázquez have both condemned the gruesome murder. And New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's office has co-sponsored a vigil scheduled to take place this Sunday, Nov. 22, on the Christopher Street Pier.

Boy in Bushwick continues to try and reach out to López's friends and family, but Serrano stressed he wants people to know who the teen was and how he said he affected those who knew him well.

"He was very proud of who he was and he was very comfortable in his own skin," he said as he once again pointed out López identified as a gay man and he volunteered for a number of LGBT organizations on Puerto Rico. "He was a free man; a free human being who had no limits to what he wanted. It only took a minute to fall in love with him. He was so genuine, so authentic."

Details of Jorge Steven López memorial in New York emerge

From the Latino Commission on AIDS.

Puerto Rican authorities to charge suspect in connection with gay teenager's murder

Puerto Rican authorities have announced they will charge a local man with first-degree murder and four other counts in connection with Jorge Steven López’s gruesome death near Cayey late last week.

Police maintain Juan A. Martínez Matos killed López after he discovered the teenager, whom he had thought was a female prostitute he had solicited on a Caguas street, was actually a man. Investigators further allege Matos decapitated and dismembered López before he burned his body and left it in a wooded area near his parents' apartment.

Matos has reportedly confessed to the murder, and he plans to use a "gay panic" defense. A judge will arraign Matos in a Caguas court in the morning, but Puerto Rican investigators have not decided whether to apply the Commonwealth's hate crime statute, which includes sexual orientation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has indicated Matos may face federal hate crimes charges if local authorities fail to indict him under the Puerto Rican law.

New Yorkers to hold vigil for Jorge Steven López Mercado

The details of Jorge Steven López Mercado's brutal murder continue to send shockwaves across Puerto Rico and beyond, but a group of New Yorkers plan to hold a vigil in his memory this Sunday, Nov. 22, on the Christopher Street Piers. I've cut and pasted details of the gathering from Facebook.

LOCATION: DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN, TBA (TENTATIVELY CHRISTOPHER STREET PIERS) - 7 PM WITH OPTIONAL MOMENT OF SILENCE AND MASS AFTERWARD

BRING: CANDLES FOR YOU AND OTHERS

***IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN NYC AND WANT TO DO YOUR PART, SEE END OF MESSAGE***

DIRECT NON-FACEBOOK USERS TO MERCADO-VIGIL.TUMBLR.COM
---
"19 year old aspiring fashion artist Jorge Steven López Mercado was found on Friday night decapitated, dismembered and partially burned. According to authorities, the investigation has shown that it is indeed a hate crime." (source: Current)

"The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the 'type of lifestyle' he was leading." (source: Towleroad)
---
Please, please invite all of your friends to a vigil honoring Mercado, specifically, and all others who have been murdered, beaten, and otherwise terrorized for their sexuality or semblance thereof.

***THIS EVENT WILL BE FILMED AND EDITED IN CONJUNCTION WITH VIGILS IN OTHER CITIES. THE EDITED FILM WILL BE PLACED ONLINE TO SHOW SUPPORT TO PR'S QUEER COMMUNITY, AND TO LOBBY FOR THE HATE CRIMES PROVISION BE APPLIED TO THIS CASE. FULL PROSECUTION FOR SUCH A DISGUSTING CRIME.***

The queer community in Puerto Rico needs to know we support them.

WE MUST FUNNEL OUR SADNESS INTO AN OUTPOURING OF RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE.

We must show the government, the media, and the oppressors that to systemically target one group for its appearance or mannerisms--and then subject them to violence explicitly for those criteria--is INTOLERABLE.
---
For more info on the murder, check out http://bit.ly/1LZRiW and http://bit.ly/1rHTmw

GLAD challenges Department of Justice's motion to dismiss DOMA lawsuit

The Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders announced earlier this afternoon it has filed motions in a federal court in Boston to challenge the Department of Justice's move to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Attorneys Gary Buseck and Mary Bonauto discussed Gill vs. Office of Personnel Management on an earlier call with journalists.

"While the government has rightly abandoned the reasons Congress relied on in passing DOMA in 1996, it now seeks to dismiss ou case by arguing that DOMA "maintains the status quo," Bonauto said. "The reality is that DOMA itself radically changed the status quo by which the federal government recognized and accepted state determinations of who is married. There is no valid excuse for the federal discrimination imposed by DOMA and this can be resolved now and without a trial.”

GLAD, which filed suit in March, also sought a final decision in the case.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a second complaint in July. And New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler introduced a bill in late September that seeks to repeal the law former President Bill Clinton signed in 1996.

The Department of Justice has until Dec. 4 to respond to GLAD's motion.

Gay man's gruesome murder sends shockwaves across Puerto Rico

I honestly feel as though I have reported on far too many hate crimes in recent weeks, but Jorge Steven López’s gruesome murder near Cayey, Puerto Rico, late last week provides an all too vivid reminder anti-LGBT hate and violence remains a serious problem all of us must address.

For those of you who remain unaware of this case, local residents found López’s decapitated, dismembered and partially burned body in a wooded area near Cayay on Friday. His friends became concerned after he failed to meet them at a popular gay club in San Juan's Santurce neighborhood. Puerto Rican police took a 28-year-old man into custody earlier this morning in connection with López’s death.

Puerto Rican activists plan to protest outside the territorial capital on Thursday. And they will also hold a vigil later this week.

Washington Blade, Southern Voice and other Window Media publications fold

A very sad day...

Spanish region includes masturbation in sex education curriculum

With all the news about the struggle for marriage for same-sex couples, anti-LGBT hate crimes, the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the continued effects of the recession, the Spanish region of Extremadura's plan to teach "self-exploration and self-pleasure" in its sexual education curriculum certainly provided this all too skeptical cynic a few very hearty laughs late yesterday afternoon.

The BBC further reported Extremaduran officials based their campaign around the masturbation-inspired slogan "pleasure is in your own hands." A local youth council reportedly proposed the idea as part of a broader curriculum, but Spain's Roman Catholic establishment and conservative media have rather predictably blasted the mere mention of masturbation in Extremadura's public schools. And the group's president has even complained about the attention the proposal has received.

I'm sure more than a few readers would have almost certainly liked to have experienced a hands-on sex education curriculum in school, but I will let them use their more than capable imaginations to come to a conclusion about how they feel about this Spanish row.

Brooklyn's oldest gay bar could close

Published reports indicate Brooklyn's oldest gay bar may close.

Gothamist reported earlier this week Starlite Lounge on the corner of Bergen Street and Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights may close its doors after its old landlord sold the building in which it is located.

Fellow blogger Rod McCollum, who lived in nearby Fort Greene for several years, reflected upon many nights he spent at the landmark bar, which has been a gay fixture in the borough since the 1960s. Rod also has a link to a petition that seeks to designate Starlite as a historical landmark to preserve it.

New York activists, politicians scoff at marriage threats

As activists and politicians prepare for a possible marriage vote in the New York State Senate by the end of the year, they continue to scoff at the primary challenge threats the National Organization for Marriage has made against any Republican Senator who supports the bill.

Attached is a link to the article I posted to EDGE earlier this morning that contains an interview with state Sen. Tom Duane [D-Manhattan] and others. Maine's successful marriage referendum has certainly energized and even emboldened NOM and other like-minded groups. The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington further disclosed yesterday it could not continue to fund the various social programs if the District's lawmakers do not change a proposed law that would allow marriage for gays and lesbians.

These are obviously only threats until they are actually put into practice, but these claims certainly prove anti-marriage groups continue to try to go on the offensive in the wake of Maine.

Stay tuned...

New York State Senate adjourns without marriage vote

After more than seven hours, the New York State Senate adjourned its special session without a vote on a bill that would extend marriage to same-sex couples.

It remains unclear as to whether lawmakers will even allow proposed legislation to go to the Senate floor for a vote. Governor David Paterson has said he plans to call for another special legislative session early next week. Legislators could potentially debate marriage on Tuesday, but as with anything in Albany these days, stay tuned...

Marriage vote in NYS Senate appears increasingly unlikely

It appears as though a possible vote in Albany this afternoon on a bill that would extend marriage to same-sex couples continues to grow less likely.

Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News reported a source who is involved with negotiations over whether to bring the bill to the floor told her it is unlikely based, in part, because a handful of GOP senators who could have potentially supported the proposed legislation could not face potentially angry constituents.

The National Organization for Marriage evoked former Congressional candidate Dede Scozzafava's failed campaign in a press release yesterday that announced the organization would fund primary challenges--with a $500,000 war chest--against any Republican senator who voted for the bill.

The obvious question remains whether the fallout from the 23rd Congressional District has put the state's GOP lawmakers on notice, but it continues to appear increasingly likely politics could once again derail marriage for same-sex couples in New York State.

New York activists, politicians gear up for possible marriage vote

As the prospects of a marriage vote in the New York State Senate continue to grow more possible, activists and even local politicians continue to urge lawmakers to pass the bill during tomorrow's special legislative session.

City Councilmember Christine Quinn joined hundreds of others who attended a candlelight vigil in Union Square earlier tonight. She later told those gathered at the Anti-Violence Project's Courage Awards at a Midtown hotel she had received assurances from state Sen. Tom Duane the bill's prospects continue to improve.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg also urged legislators to vote on (and pass) the bill.

"The time has come for the State Senate to have an open debate on this issue--and to hold an up-or-down vote," he wrote in a letter to state Sen. Eric Adams [D-Brooklyn.] "That's democracy. And the citizens of New York deserve to know where our representatives stand on this important issue."

Opponents of marriage for same-sex couples also continue to urge lawmakers to oppose the bill. Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, evoked former Congressional candidate Dede Scozzafava's failed campaign in his announcement his organization would build what he described as a $500,000 war chest to "fund a primary challenge to any Republican senator who votes for gay marriage."

"There is no Republican Senate district in New York where the majority of people support gay marriage. Maine has made that very clear,” Brown continued. "The GOP should learn from Dede Scozzafava's experience: voting for gay marriage does not pay."

It appears as though the bill does not have enough support to pass if the state Senate actually vote on it, but activists remain adamant and even (publicly) hopeful.

"All eyes are on Albany," Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said. "With a true vote of conscience, senators can rectify inequality and injustice with a vote tomorrow."

Marriage activists hold vigil in Queens

As the state Senate prepares for a possible vote on a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry, a group of activists held a vigil outside state Sen. George Onorato's office in Astoria last night to urge him to support the proposed legislation.



It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will actually debate the marriage bill during tomorrow's special legislative session, but one Albany insider told Boy in Bushwick late last week a vote is possible. Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News further reported over the weekend Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr., who supports marriage for same-sex couples, told her he plans to link the bill to farm workers' rights. A vote would certainly be a significant step forward for activists, but it remains somewhat doubtful the marriage bill has enough support in the state Senate to pass. Stay tuned...

Maine, marriage and moving forward

As activists here in New York State prepare for the possible vote on marriage next Tuesday in the state Senate, the movement for LGBT rights is hopefully taking a second look at its strategy to secure nuptials for gays and lesbians in the wake of the crushing defeat it experienced earlier this week in Maine.

Slightly more than 53 percent of Maine voters backed a referendum that overturned their state's law that allowed same-sex couples to marry. Forty-seven percent of voters opposed the measure, but the arguably larger than expected margin of victory unfortunately suggests marriage for same-sex couples remains a highly controversial issue the majority of voters in this country are not ready to support.

A handful of states--Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and soon-to-be New Hampshire--allow gays and lesbians to marry. More than 30 others, however, explicitly ban nuptials for gays and lesbians. This stark reality begs the question:
Has the marriage movement been effective?

Activists will almost certainly point out the five states that either allow gays and lesbians to tie the knot (or will soon allow them to do so) and conclude yes, but other questions remain in the wake of Maine, Proposition 8 in California and other referenda. These include whether activists should look to Washington to extend nuptials to gays and lesbians, whether marriage is actually an effective means to ensure equality for same-sex couples and whether the socio-economic demographic of those who lead the movement dictate the marriage agenda and its direction.

Maine was a sobering wake-up call for both marriage activisits and the broader movement. And they must continue to ask these difficult questions as it tries to move forward from this gut-wrenching defeat.

Paterson calls for marriage vote

Governor David Paterson has issued a proclamation that calls for the state Senate to hold a special legislative session on Tuesday to tackle marriage for same-sex couples, the growing budget deficit and other issues.

"There is never a wrong time or inconvenient time to debate human rights legislation because it's always the right time," Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said in a statement. "As long as a group of New Yorkers are being denied equal rights, addressing issues like marriage equality must always be a priority. Support for providing equal rights to LGBT New Yorkers has always been bipartisan, and we expect that this bill will be no different."

Cathy Marino-Thomas of Marriage Equality New York was more blunt in remarks she delivered at a rally last night in Union Square.

"We need to insist that Albany get off its ass and pass legislation that will protect the families of New York State," she said.

The obvious question remains whether lawmakers will actually vote on the marriage bill--or anything else for that matter. Stay tuned...

Roughly 200 attend marriage rally in Union Square

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, state Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Cathy Marino-Thomas of Marriage Equality New York were among the roughly 200 who rallied in support of marriage for same-sex couples in Union Square earlier tonight.

Those who spoke were quick to condemn the successful referendum that overturned Maine's law that allowed gays and lesbians to tie the knot.

"Maine was a terrible loss," co-organizer Corey Johnson said.

Glick was more blunt as she blasted the idea voters should decide whether gays and lesbians should have the right to marry.

"That is bull shit," she proclaimed as rally attendees erupted into applause. "We got our rights the way we were supposed to and we're not going back."

Others spoke about the possibility the New York State Senate will vote on a marriage bill next Tuesday if lawmakers actually return to Albany to attend a special legislative session.

"We want a vote on Tuesday, Nov 10; not Wednesday; not next month or next session," Marino-Thomas said. "We vote for them. They work for us."

Orlando native Alan Bounville, 33, was among those who said he felt compelled to attend the rally. A student at New York University, he said the Maine marriage referendum has only compelled him to fight harder for LGBT equality.

"I don't want my kids to not have what my sister's kids have," Bounville said.

Garden State Equality launches marriage ad campaign

Less than 24 hours after former federal prosecutor Chris Christie defeated incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, Garden State Equality's ads in support of marriage for same-sex couples have begun to air across New Jersey.

The advocacy has rolled out two television ads in support of nuptials for gays and lesbians.

Backers of Maine marriage referendum claim victory

With 87 percent of precincts reporting, a referendum that seeks to repeal Maine's law that allows gays and lesbians to marry seems poised to pass.

The New York Times has reported 52.8 percent of Maine voters supported the referendum. Slightly more than 47 percent of those who cast ballots voted against it. No on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly formally conceded in a brief statement he issued earlier this morning.

"Tonight, hundreds of thousands of Maine voters stood for equality, but in the end, it wasn't enough," he said.

Connolly further praised those who worked against the referendum.

"I am proud of the thousands of Mainers who knocked on doors, made phone calls and talked to their family, friends and neighbors about the basic premise of treating all Maine families equally," he said.

Lee Swislow, executive director of the Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, released an equally terse statement.

"Today, Maine’s same-sex couples and all their supporters are experiencing a world of hurt and pain," she said. "Same-sex couples have been denied full equality and full citizenship in their state. They have been told to remain outside. They must explain this vote to their children. At some point soon, we will all have to pick ourselves up and fight again."

Indeed.

Bloomberg wins, Corzine loses, Maine too close to call

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press has declared Mayor Michael Bloomberg the winner of the city's mayoral campaign with 51 percent of the vote. City Comptroller William Thompson, Jr., has garnered 46 percent.

Across the Hudson River, former federal prosecutor Chris Christie upset incumbent New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. Christie garnered 50 percent of the vote. Corzine received 44 percent. And independent candidate Chris Daggett garnered 5 percent.

Christie's election could have major implications on the future of marriage for same-sex couples in the Garden State, but it remains unclear as to whether the referendum that seeks to repeal nuptials for gays and lesbians in Maine has succeeded. The Portland Press Herald reports 50.12 percent of Maine voters cast their ballots against the referendum versus 49.88 of those who supported it.

Stay tuned for more updates...

Hofstra University hosts marriage debate

Cathy Marino-Thomas of Marriage Equality New York debated Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage at Hofstra University on Long Island on Oct. 28. This exchange came less than two weeks before the New York State Senate is slated to potentially hold a special session at which a vote on a bill that would extend marriage to same-sex couples is possible.

Election Day in Bushwick

I just voted at IS 347 on Starr Street. And aside from a malfunctioning voting machine and a huge wad of chewing gum into which I stepped, the process went smoothly.

Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., signs hung on street lights and along buildings leading up to the school. A number of businesses along Knickerbocker and Wilson Avenues also displayed posters in support of Working Families Parties candidate Maritza Davila in their windows.

Recent polls indicate Mayor Michael Bloomberg is poised to win a third term in office. Obviously nothing is final until the results come in, but I will continue to post updates as they trickle in.

Man arrested in connection with Key West stabbing

The Key West Police Department has arrested a Broward County man in connection with the fatal stabbing of Marques Butler early yesterday morning.

Nicholas Ferro, 23, of Hollywood, faces a second degree murder charge. He allegedly stabbed Butler near Caroline and Simonton Streets (and not Duval Street as a police spokesperson originally said) around 4 a.m. on Oct. 31. Butler died a short time later at a local hospital.

The incident took place during Fantasy Fest, a week-long celebration in which up to 70,000 revelers descend upon Key West.

Ferro remains in custody at the Monroe County Detention Center.