GLBT Activist Felicia Melton-Smyth Killed While Vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Madison, Wisconsin, GLBT activist Felicia Melton-Smyth, who was vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, was reportedly stabbed to death May 26. Police say the man who stabbed GLBT activist Felicia Melton-Smyth is Francisco Javier Hollos, who apparently had met the victim earlier and had no place to stay, according to the Associated Press GLBT activist Felicia Melton-Smyth helped raise money for GLBT causes like the AIDS Network.

5 Tips For Keeping Safe During Travel

It's important to be on your guard when you travel abroad because the unfamiliarity with the mores, laws, and cultures of a distant land can land you in a lot of hot water and even endanger your life. Here's some tips to help keep you safe during your travels.

Don't Patronize The Sex Areas

I've been to cities like Madrid, Spain, where just off the main tourist areas, I see prostitutes hanging around waiting for johns as I've walked from the Puerta del Sol to the Gran Via. I just keep walking by. Well, I don't care how much your hormones are acting up to get some belly warming: Don't stop and negotiate with those people!!! How do you know that they won't take you to a place where some other goons are waiting for you to shake you down for all your money? What about communicable diseases? And the more unfamiliar places people are in, the more the odds for being hurt go up, especially when they are doing something wrong.

Don't Bring Strangers Into Your Hotel Room When You Travel

From the early reports of the GLBT activist Felicia Melton-Smyth alleged murder case, there's a chance that she may have let a complete stranger stay with her, especially since she was killed in her hotel room according to the initial reports of the website called FeliciaMelton-Smyth.com This should be a red flag to not allow complete strangers up into your hotel room. I can't think of any exceptions to this rule (other than hotel staff), which includes for one night stands. If you don't know someone, the chances that something bad could happen in your hotel room go up like what's purportedly happened with GLBT activist Felicia Melton-Smyth.