For a world lived in solidarity

TONIGHT, I attended a candlelight vigil for young Jorge Steven López Mercado, who was brutally murdered for the fact that he lived life as an openly gay man. I can't help but ask myself how much longer will this be allowed to continue--how many more Matt Sheppards, how many more Jorge Mercados will have their lives cut short until someone has the nerve to admit that the law needs to intervene.

Here in the U.S., we now have hate crimes legislation to carry a heavier sentence. But a brutal murder such as this is something that runs much deeper than what some hate crimes legislation can heal--that bill is merely a bandage applied after the fact.

There is a schism that runs deep in the very fabric of humanity that causes people to feel the right or need to commit crimes such as these. In order for society to be healed of these ills, we must address the root cause of the problems. Homophobia, transphobia, racism and sexism are at the base of them, and that translates into a divide-and-defeat strategy that has been so key in keeping us so divided that we cease to be able to stand in anything that resembles a united front.

As long as religious leaders are allowed to help spread homo/trans-phobia hate speech, these atrocities will continue. They set the stage for the perpetration of anti-LGBT hate crimes and encourage insecurities in people--I would even go so far as to say that some of those who foster these insecurities lay the very groundwork for these brutal senseless acts of violence.

It is our job to change this--to combat hate and intolerance, and in our wake leave people who have learned a thing or two about acceptance. We have to show that a better world, one not ruled by hate, but rather lived in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, is possible--the essence of a socialist world, where we lift each other up.

Moments like tonight, when I saw so many people come together to pay respect to a fallen brother, give me cause to believe a world like that is possible.

Outreach to people who do not understand that LGBT people pose no threat to them or their way of life is one thing that will be key. We need to get everyone, from every walk of life, from every creed, to recognize each other's humanity, that we are all connected and that society will not stand for this.

Let's work toward the socialist ideal of what our society should look like--a society where there is no need for candlelight vigils.
Dove Paige Anthony, Chicago