Wednesday, April 21, 2010
EQUALITY (of Coverage?)
Posted by Gina at 9:47 AM
http://skipthemakeup.blogspot.com/2010/04/equality-of-coverage.htmlJorge (l)... Ashley (r). Which death is more important?
The horrible murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado in November, 2009 was unquestionably, the most highly reported crime against an LGBT person since Matthew Shephard's murder. Not only were there literally hundreds of news stories in major media, but there were vigils throughout the United States held in memory of Mercado's death. Moreover, the crime was written about and featured on countless large blogs throughout the Internet.
What so many of these stories and memorials didn't cover was how Lopez Mercado was completely presenting as female at the time of the murder which police have stated happened while Mercado was doing sexwork. Lopez Mercado was always very clearly identified by media as a gay male and how the crime was an example of homophobia and "gay panic." Needless to say, gender identities can be complex and evolving and it isn't entirely clear what the victim's gender ID was... gay man who did occasional drag but had recently started hooking while presented as a woman, or young person who was evolving into a more trans identity with a pit stop in the gay community? While this issue is still being debated, it's clear there was a large will by much of the media to paint the murder as a homophobic crime against a young gay male. Almost immediately, Lopez Mercado entered the realm of anointed community martyr. The trial of his accused murderer is scheduled to begin on May 3.
