Three LGBTQ activists have been murdered in Guerrero, Mexico.

The bodies of Roberto Vega, Carlos Uriel Lopez and Ruben Estrada were discovered by authorities in the city of Taxo.

The Washington Blade reports that the men were out at a nightclub on Sunday, June 17 when they became the target of a group of men demanding money.

They refused to pay and were grabbed, thrown in a van and driven away.

Local news reports that all three died of gunshot wounds to the head.

Other reports suggest they were tortured before they died.

Vega, Lopez and Estrada were all active members of their local LGBTQ community. Estrada, 35, helped organize the annual Pride celebration and was in a relationship with Lopez.

Gaby Soberanis of the LGBT group Diversidad Guerrero said: “We are sad, depressed.

“They were young. They had a future ahead of them. The entire state’s LGBTI rights movement is sad, is in mourning.”

LGBT people are the most targeted group for hate crimes!

According to the New York Times LGBTs are twice as likely to be targets of hate crimes than Blacks and even Jews.

Unfortunately there are still many people that see gay men as effeminate, weak, and unable to defend themselves. You don’t have to fall into that category.

Don’t be a victim of gay bashing!

Some tips to protect yourself:

There’s safety in numbers. Almost all of the victims were alone Don’t show fear. If you they think you’re likely to put up a fight they’ll leave you alone. Most bad guys are looking for easy pickings Have a self defense tool

If you do have a gun then you need a concealed holster so you can have it when you need it. Period. I found this one for free just pay for shipping.

But many gay men and women are uncomfortable carrying a firearm. That’s okay; you can still protect yourself with things like this special credit card . It seems really cool and will get one myself!

I know many of you will say “But you can’t carry a knife everywhere!”

That’s true that’s why I recommend a tactical pen. It’s a fully functional self defense tool cleverly disguised as a writing utensil and a flashlight. It has a tungsten steel striker, a bottle opener, and yes it actually writes!

Secret service agents carry pen’s like these!

Watch a video on how to defend yourself from a potential gay bashing using the KISS Method