Asterisk - Latest Comments

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

MattAlgren — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:46:02 -0000

A bit much.

Re: Gay Man Donates Kidney; Most Donations Illegal

healthdonations — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:44:54 -0000

I can understand the initial reaction toward gay men donating blood, but really, this is just a ridiculous law given the knowledge we have about AIDs and the technology we have for screen blood donations.

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

karls0913 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:39:25 -0000

People need to stay away from Puerto Rico; the crime, drug, and gay bashing capital of the world.

Re: Happy Birthday, Neil Patrick Harris!

MattAlgren — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:19:17 -0000

Whoops! I forgot to change the links when I moved the other blog. Should be fixed now!

Re: Happy Birthday, Neil Patrick Harris!

Angel — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:43:05 -0000

sad. none of your links work.

Re: The Religious Right’s “Manhattan Declaration”

a. mcewen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:41:39 -0000

Don't forget Peter Akinola of Nigeria who supported a bill which would imprison gays and lesbians.

Re: The Religious Right’s “Manhattan Declaration”

Larry_Ohio — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:29:49 -0000

Amen!

Re: Houston Gay Kid Beaten with Metal Pipe; School Officials Refused to Help

MattAlgren — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:58:47 -0000

I'm not following.

Who is the other victim? Under what circumstances is it okay to chase someone down and beat him with a metal pipe for 10 minutes?

Re: Houston Gay Kid Beaten with Metal Pipe; School Officials Refused to Help

Uknown — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:21:32 -0000

I understand that beating him wasn't right but then again they don't give off the full story c'mon its 2009 there is many gays roaming the halls of Langham creek high school why out of all pick him?........ JayRon isn't the only victim here. Get the full story and thats all i say.

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

MattAlgren — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:38:32 -0000

I agree with you 100%, Sonia. I'm so glad you took the time to comment.

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

stevensandrew — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:44:17 -0000

i agree with u. It's like telling a blk person back in the 50's "you're bound to get hang on a tree, you know it's coming for you. Cause your blk. so stop being black."

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

soniarodriguezlopez — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:09:48 -0000

I am a 45 yr old Puerto Rican mother, sister, friend. Forget gay bi or straight Please everyone who sees this know that we are an American territory. My great grand parents, grandparents and uncles all fought in the Army. I am as American as Apple pie and this makes me sick. This young man needs justice and in a small island like in rural small town USA sometimes the Law enforcement agencies are lacking. Yet its you and I and the rest of this world to choose to get involved soooo these victims and their parents will see justice. I am Puerto Rican American and I am Love... Please do not judge us for some maniac. LIVE LOVE AND LAUGH GOD BLESS US ALL

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

MattAlgren — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:19:05 -0000

As I said above, I trust the Puerto Rico community's response, not to mention that of Pedro Julio Serrano, as a good indicator that he was basically saying, "Yeah, well, that's what happens" and shrugging his shoulders.

And again, even accepting your alternate interpretation it's a wholly inappropriate official response to a man being murdered, beheaded, sawed into pieces, and burned.

I understand the urge to explain away a statement so shocking. I honestly do. Sometimes, though, people say and do harmful things. When that happens, no good is served by covering them up rather than facing them.

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

BillyD — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:08:55 -0000

Could it be that the lifestyle that the investigator was referring to was not Jorge's being gay, but to his alleged status as a cross-dressing sex worker? Not that gay hookers deserve to be killed, but that it's a risky business?

Re: Taking Marriage Seriously: A Study in Contrasts

keltic — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:53:17 -0000

what church allowed that to happen as part of a religious ceremony in the first video?????

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

MattAlgren — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:42:53 -0000

Fortunately, the monster who did this has confessed and is in custody, so at least the local community can come down from red alert.

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

MattAlgren — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:40:39 -0000

I suspect that some of the meaning is lost in translation. I'm trusting the unusually visceral reaction from the Puerto Rico LGBT community as an indicator for his meaning.

Regardless, the appropriate reaction from an investigator is not to warn the victim's community to watch their backs. (Trust me, they already know that.) The appropriate reaction is to make clear to the murderer's community that it won't be tolerated. The investigator chose the former.

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

Just Wondering — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:05:39 -0000

Am I alone in how I took the investigator's comment...As a police officer, I am sure he is more than aware of the intolerance that may be in the area for alternative lifestyles...and what he said was just warning others, that they need to watch out for themselves and be aware of their surroundings b/c they are more likely to be victims? Nothing in his comment (in this article at least) makes him out to be siding with the killer or that the victim deserved this...I am not saying this was not a hate crime and it is absolutely horrible and very sad, I am just a little uncertain as to where the anger is coming from towards the investigator...

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

Robinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:10:32 -0000

Let unit force and writte letter to the police department and the governor for proper action and a proper investigation in this case, This is worst than the matthew shepard case

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

Nickalick — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:23:28 -0000

He Deserved Nothing like that,,,Being gay is NOT wrong...it is NOT a choice...NO ONE Should Die for being Gay...i hope the people who did should die the same wat this kid did...Make them pay!!!....from the sound of it it seems the investigator may have had an involvement in this murder!!!

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

Nick — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:17:58 -0000

Re: Gay Man Decapitated, Dismembered; Investigator Sides with Killer

Brooke — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:06:57 -0000

...I think I'm going to be sick,

Re: Anti-Gay Android App: Google Approved?

MattAlgren — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:46:21 -0000

No pedestal here. No witch hunt either. Just calling them as I see them.

And "anal retentive" doesn't mean what you think it means.

Thanks for your comment!

Re: Taking Marriage Seriously: A Study in Contrasts

MattAlgren — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:40:35 -0000

That's part of my point.

They want to use outlying examples as stand-ins for the norm, I figure we should do the same thing.

Re: Anti-Gay Android App: Google Approved?

Titanite — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:58:01 -0000

I'm gay, and I don't find it offensive. I think some gay people should stop being so anal retentive about gay jokes. People dislike other people for all sorts of reason, and frankly, I don't mind people disliking me because I'm gay. Other people dislike me for being tall, or fat, or thin, or whatever. Stop your witchhunt and get down from the pedestral you built in the name of protecting gay rights!