Even in the midst of her terrible grief, at the funeral for her slain 19-year-old son, Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, the boy’s mother, Myraim Mercado, offered words of wisdom and even hope to fellow mourners.
The clip below of the funeral was supplied to Joe.My.God blog by Andres Duque at Blabbeando, who also supplied the English translation subtitles.
Holding back tears, Myriam Mercado recalls that when Jorge Steven told her that he was gay, she replied, “I loved you then, I will love you more now.”
I said to him, “What give me fear is what’s waiting in the streets, the rejection, the stares.” But he said, “Mommy, now you know, and that is enough” and he was happy for that reason. He took a weight off his shoulders…. And I urge everyone, particularly parents, that if they suffer because of society, they suffer even more when the family condemns them. Steven was happy. I know he loved me and I loved him. I, who am dumb. But I also gave him advice, because I told him, “Steven, there is a lot, a lot of perversion here and there.” But I loved him. I loved him.
Joe.My.God offers this sage advice: “Get out a tissue. Get out two.”
Blabbeando also posts a message from Myriam Mercado who spoke on camera with Puerto Rican LGBT activist Pedro Julio Serrano. She thanks him and the thousands of others who have expressed sympathy and solidarity with the Lopez Mercado family, including the thousands who have attended vigils for Jorge Steven.
Video: A mother’s heart-rending advice at funeral of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado [contd.]
Blabbeando translates:
My family and I are incredibly grateful for all the love, the unconditional support that you have given me. That's what gives me the strength, in part, it gives me the force for me to bring a message: Love conquers hate. And this we have to shout to the world. Because... Steven was a human being. He was my son. He was a brother. I ask you and beg you, everyone in the world, that we should love everyone else no matter what's there.
Source: Joe. My. God.: The Funeral Of Jorge Mercado
Last modified: 24 Nov 09 02:02
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