LGBT group rally for peace after gay man murdered by father
The group took to the streets following the recent murder of a local man.
Members of a local LGBT group have gathered to promote peace and tolerance in their community after the murder of local man Amir Issa.
The Somos Familia Valle also demanded justice for LGBT lives taken by homophobes.
The community group for LGBT people and their straight allies gathered after Issa’s father was charged with his murder.
Amir Issa was found shot to death outside his family’s home in California on March 29.
The body of Issa’s mother, Rabihah Issa, was also found. Investigators found her covered with blood in the bathroom of the house and noted that she appeared to have been dead “for a while.”
Less than a mile from the murder scene, the group gathered in the hope to “advocate for family acceptance toward all LGBT children as well as to demand an end to discrimination and violence.”
Participants held large, colourful signs promoting peace and love, as well as banners with the message, ‘Family acceptance save lives.’
Some were also seen wearing and waving the pride flag, and chanting pro-equality messages.
“When one of these family tragedies happen, this sends a strong message that there’s a lot more work that we need to do,” rally organiser, Ronnie Veliz said of the murder.
“Anti-violence work, work to educate our communities to rise above homophobia and transphobia and most importantly, to really address mental health issues.”
Shortly after his death, a Facebook post supposedly written by Amir Issa was discovered, hinting at the troubled family life he led.
The post, which was written just ten days before his death, described his life at home as a “living hell”.
“Every day I wake up feeling like my sister or brother or mother or father is literally controlling me in my sleep,” Issa wrote.
He also alleged that his relatives stole money from him and tried to have him imprisoned.
His father, Shehada Issa, has been arrested and charged with his murder.
If convicted of the charge, he faces life imprisonment without parole.
