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Ricky Martin Thanks Puerto Rican LGBT Activist Pedro Julio Serrano

Ricky Martin tweets a virtual high-five to Puerto Rican LGBT activist Pedro Julio Serrano. Andrés Duque translates with backstory:

"@PJ_Serrano: kid thanks to you for all you do for Puerto Rico and for the community.  Strength and always push forward" [Serrano] said that he'd noticed Ricky Martin had added him to his Twitter feed and could hardly believe it. So he sent the singer a message telling him how proud he was of him and, in response, Ricky posted the message.

You may recall that PJ Serrano lead the charge against ugly anti-gay slurs describing Martin's that were broadcast on Puerto Rican television. Adds Duque: "I often wondered if Ricky Martin was paying attention to Pedro Julio's efforts to fight the homophobic comments that his coming out had elicited on Spanish-language media and, if he was, whether he approved or saw it as a side-show. Now we have the answer. "

Puerto Rican Police Investigate Murder of Transgender Woman

The body of Ashley Santiago Ocasio, a 31-year-old transgender woman, was discovered in a bloody crime scene at her home outside San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 19. The island's LGBT community believes this could be a hate crime and are concerned authorities are not fully investigating the murder, reports the Washington Post.

The case has grabbed headlines and renewed complaints that Puerto Rico has never invoked a 2002 hate crime law covering crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In the last five months alone, there have been five instances where the statute could have been used, said Pedro Julio Serrano, a spokesman for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "The law is very clear and we're asking authorities to investigate without prejudice," Serrano said. The grisly scene at Santiago's home raised suspicion that she may have been targeted because of her gender identity.

Santiago was shot in the head but "there was so much blood spattered" that police initially reported Santiago had been repeatedly stabbed .

Last November, the gruesome murder and dismemberment of 19-year-old Jorge Steven López Mercado made international news. The trial begins in less than two weeks and  Juan A. Martínez Matos, the man who confessed, faces first-degree murder and weapons charges. Puerto Rico's Republican Gov. Luis Fortuño, who resisted efforts to prosecute the López case as a hate crime, has yet to make any public comment.

Live Tweeting "Path Forward"

Follow me on Twitter where I'll be live tweeting @MSignorile's  two-hour show "The #PathForward: An #LGBT Leadership Town Hall". Also using #PFwd tag.

Signorile Hosts LGBT Leadership Town Hall Today in Washington D.C.

Michelangelo Signorile, host of The Michelangelo Signorile Show on Sirius XM, will moderate a live, two-hour LGBT leadership town hall today from 2 to 4PM in Washington D.C.

"The Path Forward: An LGBT Leadership Town Hall" will feature National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director Rea Carey; National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling; Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey Sarvis; former Clinton White House adviser on gay rights Richard Socarides; Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend and Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese.

Signorile writes: "With all the direct action protests this week by GetEQUAL, the uncertainly and anger about getting a passing vote in the House and Senate on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act—which has been put off since last summer—and the signals from the White House that it doesn't support repealing "don't ask, don't tell" this year, we'll put the tough questions to those who engage with the White House and Capitol Hill on a daily basis. In the room will be activists, including Robin McGehee of GetEQUAL, who will be posing a question as well."

Get a free 7-day pass and listen online any time at Sirius 109. If you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for free, for a 7-day trial.

NYC Officials: FCC Must Probe Anti Gay Remarks on Puerto Rican TV

Six New York City officials, including all four current openly gay city councilmembers, sent a letter (PDF) to the Federal Communications Commission asking for an investigation of recent, homophobic language on the Puerto Rican television show Super Xclusivo broadcast on WAPA América. The crude comments focused on pop star Ricky Martin's coming out, the gay community and Puerto Rican LGBT activist and NGLTF spokesman Pedro Julio Serrano.

Andrés Duque has been monitoring Puerto Rican media and reports:

Immediately after ...  Martin came out, Héctor Travieso, the host of the show who uses a puppet as a bantering partner, repeatedly used the word "pato" (fag) to refer to the singer.  When viewers, including Puerto Rican LGBT rights activist Pedro Julio Serrano, complained, he only upped the ante and defended his usage of the word arguing that there was nothing bad in calling someone a "pato".

The furor elicited by his comments, and by references he later made against Serrano's HIV status and sexuality  has kept the confrontation between Travieso and Serrano in the island newspapers' front pages. Travieso, who also was the host of a radio show, announced on Thursday that he would retire from that spot.  He also extended a semi-apology to Serrano and the LGBT community in an interview that ran yesterday on Primera Hora. No, he did not apologize for using the word "pato".  He only apologized for referring to the LGBT community as "gentuza", which could be translated as "riffraff", "trashy people" or 'worthless people." "I accept his apologies, but those apologies have to come accompanied by a change in his behavior," said Serrano to the paper, "He has to stop the homophobic conduct and stop making fun of the gay community."

The letter is signed by Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Council members Danny Dromm, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Rosie Mendez, and Jimmy Van Bramer.  Quinn, Dromm, Mendez, and Van Bramer are openly gay. 

The letter (PDF) to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski reads in part: "While we respect freedom of speech, using anti-gay language in this context crosses the line and puts the public welfare at risk. New York and Puerto Rico have both been affected by a number of high-profile hate crimes in recent months. It is imperative to stand up against language that can contribute to bigotry." Read the full letter HERE.

That passage undoubtedly refers to  last November'sgruesome murder and dismemberment of 19-year-old Jorge Steven López Mercado. You may recall that in January, Serrano and the four openly gay NYC councilmembers traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with the López family, as well as Puerto Rican legislators, clergy and LGBT activists.

GLAAD is also calling on the FCC to investigate Super Xclusivo.

700+ Rally in L.A. Demanding Social Security Benefits for Gay Couples

On Sunday in Los Angeles, an estimated 700 people rallied and marched from the LA Gay and Lesbian Center to the Social Security Administration's Hollywood office, chanting "Equal Rights Now" and demanding equal SSA benefits for same-sex couples, reports the LA Times.

"At the rally, Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Lakewood), who is a member of the House Subcommittee on Social Security, announced that she would sponsor legislation to provide equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples. 'I don't think it's right that Americans should be treated differently by the country they love because of who they love,' she said, triggering thunderous applause.'Same-sex marriage couples pay equally into a system that they don't receive equal benefits from in return.' As of now, people in same-sex relationships are denied Social Security survivor benefits from their deceased partners because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships as valid relationships. Sanchez's bill calls for the Social Security Administration to recognize those civil unions or domestic partnerships as valid relationships for the purpose of disbursing survivor benefits that heterosexual couples with a marriage certificate now receive."

More on Sanchez's bill at The Advocate, who interviewed the congresswoman on Friday.

The rally kicked off the Rock for Equality campaign. The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center posted photos of the rally at Facebook and reports: "Other political and community leaders at the event included Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Laura Richardson, L.A. City Councilmember Paul Koretz, West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land, Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey and AIDS Community Action Foundation President Craig R. Miller."

Top Photo: Twitterific via @LAGayCenter

Trial Date Set for Confessed Killer of Gay Puerto Rican Teen

A judge has set the trial date for Juan A. Martínez Matos, the man who confessed to the recent gruesome murder and dismemberment of 19-year-old Jorge Steven López Mercado, the gay teenager in Puerto Rico killed in November.

Michael K. Lavers at EDGE reports:

Judge Roberto Anglero announced earlier today Juan José Martínez Matos’ trial will begin in Caguas on March 30. He denied a defense motion to lessen one of the charges against Martínez to second degree murder.  Prosecutors contend Martínez, who faces a first degree murder and three weapons charges, stabbed Jorge Steven López Mercado to death on Nov. 12, 2009. They further allege the suspect decapitated, dismembered and partially burned López’s body before he dumped it along a remote roadside near Cayey.

Several of López’s friends and acquaintances have identified Martínez as the man with whom they last saw the teenager as EDGE reported on Feb. 6. Details of López’s reported drug use and prostitution emerged during the preliminary hearing, but Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force applauded prosecutor Yaritza Carrasquillo’s handling of this case. "She sent a very powerful message not to judge Jorge Steven; the person who should be judged is Juan Martínez Matos," he said.

Martínez confessed to killing López in what is described as "gay panic". In December, an initial court-ordered psychiatric evaluation of the 26-year-Martínez found he was incompetent to stand trial . López' family and local activists were outraged and believed Martínez was faking mental illness. After additional court-ordered examinations, the self-confessed killer was found competent.

To date, Puerto Rico's Republican Gov. Luis Fortuño, who resisted efforts to prosecute the case a hate crime, has yet to publicly comment on the López case.

Media Matters Issues Report on Lies Surrounding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

There's an excellent report by Media Matters that refutes the distortions and falsehoods surrounding the debate on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Along with a coalition of progressives, LGBT groups and activists, Media Matters wrote an open letter to the media urging them to be careful of inaccurate reporting surrounding the military's ban on openly gay troops.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell proponents too often paint a distorted picture of what a repeal would mean. Today, Media Matters for America released a comprehensive review detailing how opinion pages and cable news talk shows have been flooded with falsehoods and anti-gay rhetoric to support the dubious argument that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is working.

Myths that repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell would adversely affect unit cohesion, retention, or the HIV rate among servicemembers are not based in reality. Similarly, the anti-gay rhetoric permeating many of these arguments only serves to cheapen the national discussion on this important issue.

Because news outlets continue to repeat these outrageous myths, a coalition of organizations is banding together to combat misinformation about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law. As Congress moves forward on this legislation, we will be vigilant in ensuring that news reports are accurate and fair. The public deserves an honest debate -- not one marred by blatant falsehoods and anti-gay attacks.

Among the co-signers are Lt. Dan Choi, Courage Campaign, GLAAD, HRC and NGLTF, 

Read Media Matters report HERE.

Confession Questioned in Brutal Murder of Puerto Rican Gay Teen

There are new developments in the case of Jorge Steven López Mercado, the gay 19-year-old whose brutally murdered, decapitated and dismembered body was found two weeks ago in Puerto Rico. One of the key statements by the confessed murderer is being questioned: That the victim was presenting himself as female.

Juan Martínez Matos has been charged with first-degree murder and remains jailed on $4 million bond. Martínez confessed to killing and mutilating López and is laying the foundation of a "gay-panic" defense. Martínez says he met López while looking for a prostitute. Martinez claims López was dressed as a woman and killed him in self-defense after discovering he was a man. Doug Ireland at Gay City News:

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Pedro Julio Serrano contradicted the implications in the confessed murderer’s account. "None of Jorge Steven’s friends, and I’ve spoken to many of them, knew anything about his ever having engaged in sex work, not his family, and not the police," Serrano, who met with investigators on the case, told this reporter. "Nor was he known as a cross-dresser. He identified and lived as a very proud gay man, he was very genuine and authentic. He was just very fashion-oriented and what you could call a gender-bender, but not in a transgendered way." Serrano added, "We do not know if the murderer’s claim that Jorge Steven was wearing a dress is true or not, because the body had been so dismembered, its legs and arms and torso strewn in different locations, and it had also been burned along with the clothes he was wearing."

On Thanksgiving Eve, thousands marched through San Juan to hold a candlelight vigil for the slain teen. The crowd demanded authorities investigate the case as an anti-gay hate crime.

Under considerable pressure by gay activists, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice has agreed to investigate the murder of Jorge Steven López Mercado as a hate crime. There have been at least 20 murders of gay men or transgender women since a 2002 hate crime law was passed in this U.S. commonwealth. This will be the first time the law has been applied.

You May Want to Read ...
Thousands in Puerto Rico Hold Vigil for Slain Gay Teen
P.R. to Investigate Murder of Gay Teen as a Hate Crime
Mother of Slain Gay P.R. Teen Thanks Supporters
Slain Gay Teen Jorge Steven Lopez  Laid to Rest
Vigils for Slain Gay Puerto Rican Teen
Mother of Slain Teen Speaks Out

WATCH: Thousands in Puerto Rico Hold Vigil for Slain Gay Teen, Calle 13's René Pérez Speaks Out

More developments into the brutal murder of Jorge Steven López Mercado, the gay 19-year-old who was brutally murdered, decapitated and dismembered in Puerto Rico. On Thanksgiving Eve, thousands marched through the capital of San Juan to hold a candlelight vigil for the slain teen. The crowd demanded authorities investigate the case as an anti-gay hate crime—which apparently prosecutors have agreed to do under considerable pressure.

AFTER THE JUMP watch video of the demonstration.

Pedro Julio Serrano, a spokesman for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said as the marchers gathered outside the island's Department of Justice: "We're gay people, straight people, young people, old people. It is Puerto Rico that's walking tonight."

The mutilated body of the 19-year-old college student and gay youth activist was discovered Nov. 13 along a road in the mountain town of Cayey. Last weekend, there were more than a dozen vigils for Lopez across the country. The teen was laid to rest on Monday and close to 1,000 people attended the funeral. Miriam Mercado and Jorge López, the parents of Jorge Steven, attended the vigil with Jorge Steven's 9-year-old brother Jorge Gabriel. Mrs. Mercado—who has become a model of compassion after professing her love for her gay son and uploading a videotaped message thanking supporters throughout the world—tearfully addressed the crowd last night again: "'You have given us hope at our most difficult moment as a family,' she said. 9 year-old Jorge Gabriel led the crowd in chanting 'Long-live Steven.'"

Andrés Duque at Blabbbeando reports: "Political leaders were conspicuous in their absence. Two weeks after the horrible crime and the worldwide outrage it has elicited and there is still no word whatsoever from Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuño, a conservative darling who is being mentioned as a potential 2012 Republican U.S. presidential candidate. Amazingly, two well-known and extremely well-loved Puerto Rican showbiz darlings did make an appearance. René Pérez, lead singer for the most successful reggaeton band in the world, Calle 13, and Denise Quiñones, Miss Universe 2001, marched in last night's vigil in support of Jorge Steven's family. After the vigil, they stopped to give my friend Pedro Julio Serrano the following declarations on video."

René Pérez said, in part: "What happened was atrocious. The crime was viciously awful, and strong and unjust, and it's also unjust that it hasn't even been spoken about. Speaking of stupid things, they honor Paris Hilton in the Senate, and they cannot speak about this?" In the video translated by Duque, and also on Twitter, the top-selling reggaeton singer in the world adds this "powerful" support for equality: "I am 'Homo' because I'm 'Homo-sapiens', I am 'sexual', hence I am 'Homo-sexual' as well."

Watch Pérez and Quiñones' words of support—with a translation from Blabbeando's Andres Duque—AFTER THE JUMP.

Turning to the investigation: 26-year-old Juan Martinez Matos has been charged with first-degree murder and jailed on $4 million bond. Martinez has confessed to killing and mutilating Lopez. It appears he is laying what appears to be a "gay-panic" defense, claiming Lopez was wearing a dress and he believed the victim was a female prostitute. Martinez claims Lopez tried to stab him and he defended himself with a kitchen knife.

NGLTF’s Serrano contradicts the account. Serrano tells Doug Ireland at Gay City News: "None of Jorge Steven’s friends, and I’ve spoken to many of them, knew anything about his ever having engaged in sex work, not his family, and not the police,” Serrano, who met with investigators on the case, [says]. "Nor was he known as a cross-dresser. He identified and lived as a very proud gay man, he was very genuine and authentic. He was just very fashion-oriented and what you could call a gender-bender, but not in a transgendered way."

The Puerto Rico Department of Justice has agreed to investigate the murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado as a hate crime. There have been at least 20 murders of gay men or transgender women since a 2002 hate crime law was passed in this U.S. territory. This will be the first time it has been applied.

WHEN YOU JUMP watch video of the demonstration shot by CNN iReporter Christopher Pagan. Also watch singer René Pérez and Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones'—with a translation from Blabbeando's Andres Duque—AFTER THE JUMP.