Puerto Rico Passes LGTB Equal Protection Legislation
The senate approved the bill by 15-11 last week. After the passing today of the bill on the senate, all is needed now is the governors signature. Democratic Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has vowed to sign the bill and for the first time in Puerto Rico, have the government pass legislation to protect it’s gay citizens. This is after years of homophobia and gay bashing that went beyond just name calling or abuse. There were many killing as, shootings. burnings and even beheadings. Some strong Homosexuals there like here, that must hate themselves so much that just the word gay scares the bj-eeves of them and makes them attack in the name of either religion or 'machismo'
The House passed legislation to add protections for sexual orientation, marital status and gender identity to the domestic violence law. That measure is now headed to the Senate.
Responding, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director Rea Carey was quoted as saying,
"We celebrate with the Puerto Rican LGBT community this amazing milestone. The sweeping nondiscrimination bill that will become law with the signature of Gov. GarcĂa Padilla is a testament to the resiliency and steadfastness of the Puerto Rican LGBT community and its allies."The Puerto Rican LGBT community has endured an epidemic of anti-LGBT violence that has taken more than 35 lives in the past three years. Nonetheless, this community has continued to stand strong in the face of adversity and today can celebrate this glorious victory. We thank all the activists that have been part of this effort, especially our own Pedro Julio Serrano, who has been a steadfast and uncompromising leader in this struggle.”
It’s been so heart breaking for me to hear awful stories coming from my Island. I always thought that they would be ahead of the mainland in it’s protections of it’s gay citizens there.
I don’t visit anymore but I used to visit frequently in years back and I always saw gay bars, clubs and what seemed like a thriving community. I don’t know why the Island took a reverse approach towards the gay community. May be it was the AIDS epidemic. The good thing is that as NYC goes so does Puerto Rico. I am happy that they are ahead of the Supreme Court to publish it’s decision on DOMA.
The President wether he is a Democrat or Republican has always enjoyed a lot of respect there. President Obama coming out clearly and supporting the gay community had a lot of weight on Puerto Rico’s government to get out of the colonial days and work on protective legislation on a community that was being bashed.
I hope this indicates a period of healing and common sense in which people see that just like they don’t like to be discriminated when they come to the mainland is also not right for their gay community to be discriminated in their own home.
{Adam Gonzalez}
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