Gay/Trans Panic Defense. Again.

[Trigger warning.]

Shakers Plover, Lena, and Peggy Sue have emailed me various articles about the murder in Puerto Rico of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a gay man who was dismembered, decapitated, and his body partially burned.

His killer, who has confessed to the crime, has been identified Juan Antonio Martinez Matos, who claims he was

"looking for women" in a red light district last Friday. He had already been turned down several times, but Lopez Mercado, wearing a blue dress and boots, agreed to get in his car.

District Attorney Jose J. Bermudez says that in his confession, Martinez Matos said that he thought Lopez Mercado was a woman. The victim asked him for money and when he refused, Lopez Mercado pulled out a knife. When Martinez Matos realized that the teenager was actually male, he had a flashback to when he was raped in prison while he was serving a sentence for domestic violence. He then attacked Lopez Mercado.

Andy has more here on this horrendous case, which already also includes some appalling victim-blaming by the lead investigator: "People who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen."

Pedro Julio Serrano, Communications Manager for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and founded Puerto Rico Para Todas, said in a statement:

This is a terrible, terrible crime. While we are pleased that law enforcement has acted promptly in making an arrest, it is vital that the hate crimes angle be investigated. This horrendous killing of a young gay man shows no compassion or respect for the dignity of a human life. As someone who grew up in Puerto Rico and has been very active in its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, this is a heart-wrenching moment. Our hearts and sympathies go out to all of Jorge Steven López's loved ones at this difficult time. Justice must prevail.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has urged federal authorities to provide assistance to local law enforcement as requested and "as allowed by the new federal hate crimes law," and the FBI is reportedly investigating the forensic evidence.

There is a lot to process here, but one thing I want to note is that the prison rape narrative being included as part of the gay/trans panic defense almost certainly signals that the defense will rely on temporary insanity by way of post-traumatic stress disorder.

I am a rape survivor with PTSD. Being triggered can indeed evoke rage that manifests as self-harm or a compulsion to physically lash out.

And that is no justification for murder.