(Note from Louise: My laptop situation is currently iffy and ‘up-in-the-air’, so my apologies for any errors or incomplete listings.
Please add any other vigils you know of in “comments”- thanks!)
Please, PLEASE invite all of your friends to a vigil honoring Mercado as well as anyone else who has been murdered, beaten, and otherwise terrorized for their sexuality or gender identity, either real or perceived.The LGBT population in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican LGBT community here in the United States need 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.
We also must demand that the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, recently signed into law by President Obama, is used effectively to bring Jorge’s killer to justice.
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PHILADELPHIA
When: Friday, November 20th
Time: 6:30 – 7 p.m.
Where: Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany
330 South 13th St., Philadelphia
Speakers: Cynthia Vasquez, Youth Activist, GALAEI
Gloria Casarez, LGBT Liaison to the Mayor
Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum
Music: Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
For more information: Call Chip Alfred, Communications Director, Equality Forum, 215-732-3378 x 116, or email chip@equalityforum.com.
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IN MEMORIAM – Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado & Jason Mattison Jr. (LA)
LOS ANGELES
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 8:00pm – 9:30pm
Location: Corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente in West Hollywood
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BOSTON
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: In front of Trinity Church, Copley Plaza, Boston
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NEW YORK CITY
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time: 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: CHRISTOPHER ST PIERS 45
Street: Christopher Street & West Side Highway
New York, NY
LOCATION: HUDSON ST PIER 45 AT CHRISTOPHER ST – 5PM 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
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Chicago, IL – A candlelight vigil is being planned in Humboldt Park this Sunday, Nov. 22, from 4-6 p.m. in memory of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a gay teenager who was murdered, decapitated and burned in Cayey, Puerto Rico.
The vigil is planned to begin at California & Division.
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DALLAS
Date: November 22
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Corner of Cedar Springs and Throckmorton (heart of the Gayborhood).
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