I heard the news today of another murdered gay teenager. I feel compelled to write about it, even though I am at a loss for words. But I know I can't ignore that it happened. Fifteen year old Jason Mattison Jr. was known for his sharp wit, his tight jeans and being openly gay in his Baltimore middle school.
But today family and friends are mourning his life. Last week Jason was found dead in his aunt's house: raped, gagged with a pillowcase, stabbed repeatedly in the head and throat and shoved into a closet. A family friend is charged with his murder.
The news of Jason's murder comes on the heels of another brutal murder. That of Jorge Steven López, 19, in Cayey, Puerto Rico. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Jorge's killer confessed to murdering him after "discovering his female gender presentation did not match his male sex." Whether Jorge was a cross-dresser or transgender, I don't know, but I do know that the violence against our community has to stop.
The passage of the hate crimes law was important, but it does nothing to stop the murders. I am sad because I don't know what it will take. I wish I had the answers.
I can’t believe it, another gay teenager mudered, another gay person murdered. Just for being who they are, it sickens and scares me. It can happen to any of us, people try to tell me to stop wasting my time, the movement is over, we are accepted. This shows we can’t stop working to make it better for the queer community and it’s supporters, no matter what where we live, wether is be the U.S. or Canada like myself, the movement and fight is over, let’s keep working until we are just people in society. please.
A little off topic, but very serious: They are trying to pass a law in Uganda making it illegal to be gay with severe punishments, including the death penalty for certain things.
People are supposed to ‘turn in’ folks they know are LGBT within 24 hours after finding out.
There are 2 facebook groups about this. There was a day of prayer on the 17th. This thing has to stop!!
“I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your head before anyone even at the cost of your life.”
Gandhi
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and I’m sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry to hear of another death in the gay community. Not only is it sad because of his age, I am even more sad to hear that it happened in my home town. I no longer live in Baltimore but return there occasionally and I’m so sad to hear of this tragedy. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the boy. It is these events that make me fight even harder for the gay community, not only for myself and my partner but for others as well.
See how str8 haters are!!!!!! Wo teach their friends and family to hate! Glad I’am gay!