Mateo López Mejía

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.”


If you would like to provide a personal recollection, please email us at: HRDMemorial@frontlinedefenders.org

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Quindio

Sex1:Trans man

Age:25

Date of Killing:04/07/2020

Previous Threats:No

Gender component to killing:Evidence of gender-based and/or sexual violence

Type of Work:Social leader

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:Civil and Political Rights, ESC Rights

Sector Detail:LGBTI, Minority Rights, Poverty/Economic Insecurity

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).