was recently murdered while dancing to a Beyoncé song at a gas station in Brooklyn.He was voguing—a form of expression that has always been a form of spiritual connection for the Black queer community.
His life ended when a group of men shouted homophobic slurs and claimed that the dancing violated their religion.As a Black queer minister, I am heartbroken that people would use faith to claim the life of one of God's treasured beings.
I'm also painfully aware that travesties like these have been supercharged by a surge of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation.America prides itself on being a nation that celebrates life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
And yet, O'Shae and so many other LGBTQ individuals have lost their lives or experienced deep harm simply for daring to exercise their freedoms.