Two Gay Teens MURDERED in the last week: Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado & Jason Mattison Jr. We have to STOP this anti-gay violence!

Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, left, and Jason Mattison Jr.

Jorge was murdered in Puerto Rico. He was 19. He wanted to be a fashion designer. He was well known in the gay community of Puerto Rico, and "very loved."

"The police agent that is handling this case said on a public televised statement that 'people who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen.' As If the boy murdered (Jorge Steven Lopez) was asking to get killed."

Jason was murdered in Baltimore. He was 15. A Sophmore in High School. He was out, gay, popular, and flamboyant.

Their murders were violent, horrible, nightmare-inducing.

We have the Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act as the Law of this country, and yet this homophobic violence has not stopped.

There's been talk of how these murders haven't gotten the type of national media attention Matthew Shepherd's murder did - and discussion about whether that's because the victims this time round were Latino and Black.

But the blood of all these murdered gay teens is the same color. As is yours. As is mine.

"WE MUST FUNNEL OUR SADNESS INTO AN OUTPOURING OF RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE."

That quote is from an e-mail calling for vigils around the country to stand up and say NO MORE!

There are a number of candlelight vigils happening this Sunday Nov 22.

In Oakland

In Los Angeles

In New York City

In Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

But even if you can't attend one, light a candle in your heart. Kindle the fire of your commitment to CHANGE our world. To make it a safer place to grow up, and BE yourself. To be Gay.

We need the anti-gay murders to STOP.

No more!

Shout it with me:

NO MORE!

Now let's go out and change this world of ours!

And remember,

Our Love is stronger than their hate.

My thanks to Mayra Lazara Dole who gave me the heads-up, and Andy Towle at Towleroad who got the word out about this.