Gay and lesbian Puerto Ricans are living in a state of emergency. In the last two years, at least 24 LGBT people have been murdered on the island, including a 19-year-old gay man found decapitated, dismembered, and burned by the side of the road two years ago.

And this week -- despite a clear pattern of violence against LGBT persons -- Puerto Rico's government is set to completely remove protections for sexual orientation and gender identity from its hate crimes law.