Mateo López Mejía was a community, LGBTI and trans rights activist in Circasia Quindío.
Mateo was active in various community initiatives and at the time of his death he was taking part in a project to help people on low incomes.
On 4 July, 2020 Mateo was taking part in a meeting with members of the community on the local football ground to plan a communal meal for people living in poverty. In the middle of the meeting an unknown man walked up to him and shot him repeatedly, killing him instantly.
According to local LGBTI+ activist Sandra Martinez, “for years gays lesbians and transgender men and woman have been killed with impunity and nothing has been done. In relation to the killing of Mateo there have been no arrests and the authorities have not even started an investigation.”
