Has anything changed since Jorge Steven López Mercado’s murder?

In November, I mentioned the brutal murder of Jorge Steven López Mercado, a gay (and possibly trans or gender variant) teenager who was killed in Puerto Rico.
This article revisits the island, a few months after Jorge’s death, and tries to see how this tragedy has impacted things there as the trial is about to begin.
This kind of work, and reflection is so important. Our coverage of violence against LGBT folks can’t just stop with their deaths–we have to also investigate how these incidents can change things, start dialogues, spur movements.
From Edge:

Mark-Viverito, who was born in San Juan, told EDGE there remains “quite a lot of work to be done” in Puerto Rico, but Serrano stressed López’s murder changed the conversation about LGBT rights on the island.
“It’s no more a debate of whether there is homophobia,” he said. “Now the debate is how we are going to stop it; how are we going to end it. People are more aware of the importance of respecting everyone; regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Read the rest of the piece here.

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