Thousands Across the Nation Hold Vigils For Teen Victims of Violent Hate Crimes

Across the nation thousands attended vigils Sunday night in remembrance of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a Puerto Rican gay teen who was savagely murdered and whose burned and decapitated body was discovered last weekend, as well as Jason Mattison Jr., a 15-year-old Baltimore gay teenager who was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death. His body was discovered in his aunt's closet and the suspect is a family friend.

Puerto Rican police are investigating Mercado's murder and considering how the new federal hate crimes law may be applied. An investigator sparked outrage when he suggested that Jorge's "type of lifestyle" caused the teen's untimely death.

Juan Martinez Matos has been charged with Mercado's slaying. Dante Parrish has confessed to and has been booked for Mattison's murder.

In New York City, Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke to the four or five hundred vigil attendees.



GLAAD President Jarret Barrios also spoke:



The San Francisco Vigil:



Miriam Mercado, mother of Jorge, expressed gratitude for the support shown for her and her family during this difficult time.



Thanks to Andres of Blabbeando for translating.

Hi. My name is Miriam. I am Steven's mom. My family and I are incredibly grateful for all the love, the unconditional support that you have given me. That's what gives me the strength, in part, it gives me the force for me to bring a message: Love conquers hate. And this we have to shout to the world. Because... Steven was a human being. He was my son. He was a brother. I ask you and beg you, everyone in the world, that we should love everyone else no matter what's there. Behind of what is there, there is a human being just like my son that did not deserve this. In the name of my family and my own, I offer my hand, I don't have how to pay back every... the demonstrations and the love that I have received. So we are all going to bring a message: Love conquers hate. And together, we have the strength.

If anyone has an inkling about the pain Miriam must be experiencing, it's Judy Shepard. She has issued the following statement on Jorge's slaying.

Dennis and I, and the entire board and staff of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, stand with all who are grieving the loss of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado in one of the most shockingly brutal hate crimes in Puerto Rico’s history.

While we are grateful to the local law enforcement officials for their swift work to apprehend the suspect in this terrible crime, we remain deeply saddened that yet another family should have to suffer the pain of such a tragedy, and that such breathtaking violence continues to be directed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people who are simply trying to live their lives honestly and openly.

For another young person to lose their life and be taken from their family and community due to fear, prejudice and hatred is simply unacceptable. Each of us who believe in freedom and equality must remain vocal, active, and unrelenting in calling for justice.

Our thoughts are with Mr. Lopez, all who knew and loved him, the members of his community and the millions worldwide who have been touched by his senseless death. Our family and the Foundation will continue to work to prevent similar tragedies in any way we can.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. The AP reports that new FBI data released today shows that hate crimes against gays increased sharply in 2008. Overall hate crimes increased 2%, and of these there was an 11% increase of hate crimes based on sexual orientation. (Though the AP's reporting on the numbers has been called into question.)

Sadly, these incidents still won't silence the critics and haters who believe the hate crimes bill is an unnecessary, "thoughts crime" law.

VIDEO: President Obama Signs Hate Crimes Prevention Act into Law

Today marked a historical occasion when President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.



"The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised President Barack Obama today for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law," said a press release issued by HRC. "The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability."

"This law honors our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short because of hate," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Today's signing of the first major piece of civil rights legislation to protect LGBT Americans represents a historic milestone in the inevitable march towards equality. Although this is a major step in fighting the scourge of hate violence, it is not the end of the road. As a community, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to changing not only laws but also hearts and minds. We know that hate crimes not only harm individuals, but they terrorize entire communities. After more than a decade of advocacy, local police and sheriffs' departments now have the full resources of the Justice Department available to them."

Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors said, "We are thrilled that President Obama has signed this fundamental piece of legislation, which ensures that the federal government will fulfill its obligation to protect all people of this nation, including LGBT people. We applaud the President and Congress for joining California in standing up against violence based on hate. We are especially grateful to Assemblymember Pedro Nava who authored the hate crimes resolution this year, former Senator Sheila Kuehl who authored the original California Hate Crimes Law and the LGBT Caucus and legislators who supported the numerous hate crimes bills and resolutions passed in California.”

HRC produced a tribute to the Dennis and Judy Shephard for their tireless work the last ten years to get this legislation passed and signed into law.



You can send them a note of thanks at www.LoveConquersHate.org.

For more extensive coverage, check out reporter Karen Ocamb's amazing post at LGBT POV.

Watch the president's reception live tonight at 6pm EST/3pm PST.

Hate Crimes Legislation Heads to President Obama’s Desk

Press Release from the Shephard Foundation:

October 22, 2009

Today, the United States Senate took an historic step toward ensuring justice for the victims of hate crimes targeted for violence due to their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

“Dennis and I are extremely proud of the Senate for once again passing this historic measure of protection for victims of these brutal crimes,” said Judy Shepard, president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board. “Knowing that the president will sign it, unlike his predecessor, has made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile. Hate crimes continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live their lives honestly, and they need to know that their government will protect them from violence, and provide appropriate justice for victims and their families.”

By voting overwhelmingly to extend to these often-targeted Americans our nation’s decades-old bias crime legislation, senators sent the message that hate crimes will not go unpunished, and local governments and law enforcement agencies will not run out of financial resources to provide justice to these victims and their loved ones.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act was attached earlier this year to the annual Defense Department spending bill, and Thursday’s 68-29 Senate vote to approve the final House-Senate compromise on the defense bill now sends this important law enforcement provision to President Obama, who has vowed to sign it.

Under the legislation, federal prosecutors could step in to try violent hate-crime cases if local authorities cannot or will not secure an appropriate conviction. It also opens up federal funding for law enforcement to handle the typically high cost of investigation and judicial proceedings in such cases, and would make grants available for training and prevention programs at the local level.

The act is named to honor Matthew Shepard as well as James Byrd, an African-American resident of Texas brutally dragged to death in 1998 in a notorious hate crime. Matthew’s parents Dennis and Judy Shepard have campaigned for the legislation’s passage for more than a decade since their son’s murder in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998 in an anti-gay hate crime.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation applauds Congress and President Obama for their steady and successful efforts throughout 2009 to bring the legislation to this point. We eagerly anticipate its final enactment and wish to thank the countless organizations and individuals who have worked tirelessly for its passage.

Karen Ocamb at LGBT POV reports does a great job of gathering more news surrounding this historic passage.