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A Brooklyn man was fatally stabbed after a dispute over his dance moves at a gas station. O’Shea Sibley, a popular figure in the LGBTQ+ ballroom scene, was attacked by a 17-year-old who was offended by his dancing and outfit. Sibley’s friends and loved ones expressed concerns about his safety as an openly gay Black man in a homophobic neighborhood. This incident highlights the ongoing battle for safety and acceptance faced by Black LGBTQ+ individuals. Iman Milner reported
Tragic Stabbing Death of Brooklyn Man Sparks Concerns for LGBTQ+ Safety
An unfortunate altercation between two groups of men resulted in the stabbing death of O’Shea Sibley, a well-known figure in the LGBTQ+ ballroom scene in Brooklyn. Sibley, known for his love of the popular “vogue” style of dance, encountered homophobic violence on Saturday, July 29, at a neighborhood gas station. The suspect, a 17-year-old, is currently on the run.
According to NBC 4 New York, the dispute between Sibley and the attacker began over his dance moves at a gas pump. When an attendant attempted to intervene, the 17-year-old stabbed the 28-year-old dancer in the chest. Tragically, Sibley was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Law enforcement officials present at the scene reported that the stabbing suspect, who identified as Muslim, took offense to Sibley’s dance style and his attire. In the days leading up to the attack, Sibley’s friends and loved ones expressed concerns about his safety as an openly gay Black man. “They don’t live in the neighborhood we live in, it’s a very homophobic neighborhood, and they were out here dancing,” said Beckenbaur Hamilton, a friend of the deceased.
This incident highlights the ongoing struggle for safety and protection faced by Black LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the communities they call home. With the passage of new laws that strip the community of its human rights, there is an increasing fear of homophobic individuals feeling justified in carrying out hate crimes like this stabbing. Hamilton expressed frustration, stating, “There is no progress. Progress? Yes. But we here don’t see it. We have to live stifled. We live here in a community where we have to pretend to be somebody else.”
The tragic death of O’Shea Sibley serves as a reminder of the urgent need for societal change and continued efforts to create safe spaces for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity..
