Last week, Latin pop heartthrob Ricky Martin lamented the Puerto Rican Senate’s proposal to strip sexual orientation and gender identity from the state’s U.S. Commonwealth’s hate crimes law. And now this week, Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuño has announced that he supports keeping sexual and gender identity in their hate crimes laws. Coincidence? We think not. Martin’s tears obviously have magical, heart-changing properties.
Well, okay… it probably didn’t hurt that Martin’s opposition was echoed by a handful of U.S. politicians and about 14,000 petition signers at Change.org. But we still think that Martin’s tears can melt icy hearts and turn polluted water into peach soda.
But will Fortuño keep his word if Puerto Rico’s legislators pass the proposal? And more importantly, will he actually back the hate crimes provisions with police and government action when the next hate crime occurs?
Mike in Asheville
FOR FUCK’S SAKE DO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AMERICA — Back to GRADE school government class!
Puerto Rico is a US Commonwealth — it is not a state. That is a HUGE controversy, and you should know about it. As a territory, Puerto Rico is DENIED representation in the House and Senate (they have a NON-voting resident Commissioner, or a big nothing fucking deal).
Matt
“But we still think that Martin’s tears can melt icy hearts and turn polluted water into peach soda.”
And much more!
the crustybastard
Don’t underestimate the Awesome Power of Ricky when it comes to Puerto Rico.
Had a friend that worked for TWA back in the day (not a Latina/o, not a Menudo/Ricky fan), who swore the reason that TWA was awarded certain lucrative routes in Puerto Rico was almost entirely due to the fact that Ricky was TWA’s Latin American spokesman.
I, for one, welcome our new Latino overlord.
BubbasBack
Maybe he should run for governor. Burp.
JohnAGJ
“As a territory, Puerto Rico is DENIED representation in the House and Senate (they have a NON-voting resident Commissioner, or a big nothing fucking deal)”
Because that is what the voters in Puerto Rico have chosen themselves at least twice. If PR wants a voting representative in Congress then the people should apply for statehood instead of picking commonwealth status. You don’t get to have a vote without accepting all the responsibilities and limitations of statehood. Or they could choose full independence if they like. It’s up to them and I personally would support either.
Mike in Asheville
@JohnAGJ: John, whether Puerto Ricans do or do not desire statehood or independence is not really relevant to my point that Queerty labeled the Commonwealth as a State. Their status is and should be up to them, first; its up to the rest of the Union then to accept that status.
My point is, what is a Queerty reader to think when they so regularly get factual information so wrong? I read Queerty daily and recheck it fairly often because they bring interesting stories that mainstream media fails to report. Their misinformation brings into question the overall reliability of the rest of the information.
I certainly hope that at some point Queerty is in a position to engage a copy editor who will correct grammar and misspelling, and misinformation, so that the guts of a story are not harmed by the erroneous clatter surrounding it. Or, perhaps, a new web site will show up that does get Queerty’s unique take on current affairs AND present that take without the distractions of such glaring errors.
Steven
@the crustybastard: New? It feels like he has been that for a while now.
JohnAGJ
@Mike in Asheville: Agreed. I’ve seen so much sloppy editing here at Queerty that I tend to ignore it at times without even realizing that I’m doing so. Perhaps that’s what they’re counting on…
Marc Felion
Puerto Rico is a a free associated state., so in essence Queerty is right in calling it a state. No, it is not a state like PA or NY, but governments of all sorts are often called states- ie. France, UK etc.
the crustybastard
@Steven:
I’d like to remind Ricky that, as a trusted blog personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in his underground bonbon caves.
nicole
Yeah ricky martin’s tears melted his heart. Bull crap… Fortuño just didn’t want to get stuck with the hate he’d receive because a very famous celebrity himself was standing up against the law and confronting Firtuño head on. He would be receiving all sorts of shit if he denied Ricky Martin.