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Killing in Puerto Rico Hits Chicagoans Hard
Produced by Chip Mitchell on Saturday, November 21, 2009

The murder of a young gay activist in Puerto Rico is reverberating in Chicago. We report from our West Side bureau.

The body of Jorge Steven López Mercado, 19, turned up decapitated and burned November 13 along a road in central Puerto Rico. Authorities are holding a suspect and prosecuting the case as a murder but, so far, not a hate crime.

That’s angering organizers of protests this weekend in more than a half-dozen U.S. cities. Ruben Feliciano is helping organize a vigil in Chicago, which has one of the country’s largest Puerto Rican communities.

FELICIANO: This is a civil-rights issue.

Feliciano says he’s also trying to counter a myth:

FELICIANO: That Latinos are more homophobic than others. We have come a long way. There’s all these grassroots movements taking place here in Humboldt Park, spaces for young LGBTQ community.

Those spaces include an AIDS outreach organization, a planned youth homeless shelter, and a new activist group called Boricua Pride.

The vigil to remember López Mercado begins Sunday at 4 p.m. at Division and California.

Robert McCarroll, Metro San Juan, Puerto Rico // Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 5:16 PM

I am about as Yankee as anyone can be. I am also as gay as anyone can be. I retired to Puerto Rico in May 1986. I frequently vacationed in Puerto Rico during the 1960's and 1970's. The main reason that I now live in Puerto Rico is because the regular Puerto Ricans that I mingle with every day are not homophobic. Most straight Puerto Ricans can spot that I am gay from a block away. They still warmly welcome me and treat me as a friend. The government of Puerto Rico is controlled by religious leaders who are anti-gay bigots. The Puerto Rican self-serving, not-honorable political leaders sucker up to them for votes. We should never confuse the loving middle class and poorer Puerto Ricans with the self-serving religious and political power brokers who are corrupt and don't understand or want to understand the importance of human rights for all citizens including LGBTT people. Not only are Puerto Ricans warm and friendly, they are the most beautiful looking men and women ever created by my God of Love and Tolerance. I refuse to accept the bigots' God of Hate and Fear.

Lucy Pagan, kelvyn Park, Chicago // Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 1:51 AM

This is a shame! Not all Puerto Rican are Idiots. Rest in peace Jorge Lopez Mercado. But who ever did this should be tried and convicted in the court of law. I am really upset about this! This does not make any sence. Regardless, I hope that they catch the person who did this and make him/her pay for what he or she has done. Que dios bendiga la familia de Jorge Mercado. Y que dios lo tenga con el!!! VIVA LOS PUERTO RICANOS

Acajudi, Downtown // Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 9:00 PM

All people are beautiful! Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

N. Karos, San Juan // Monday, November 23, 2009 @ 6:56 AM

This is the first that I've seen or heard, living here, that Steven was a "gay activist." A student at Sacred Heart U. here, he often attended class in drag, and was hustling in drag in Caguas when he was picked-up by this demented guy. Should the guy fry? Certainly. But let's not project Steven as something he really wasn't... and certainly that leaving the inference that his activism was somehow connected to his murder.

Earl H, North Hollywood // Monday, November 23, 2009 @ 1:57 PM

Wow! Robert McCarroll you summed it up so perfectly. Thank you for expressing my sentiments as well. My lover and I have traveled extensively over the last several years throughout the little towns in the countryside and hills in Puerto Rico and have NEVER encountered any hatred and even rudeness. We have met with open arms and hearts where-ever we have gone in Puerto Rico and her islands. On many occasions, we have even had priests and local church folk open their gorgeous churches for us to tour and video as we like to do in our travels.