New York police charge five with 'disturbing' murder of trans man
The accused, all from the area near where Nordquist's body was discovered in northern New York, are: Precious Arzuaga, Patrick Goodwin, Kyle Sage, Jennifer Quijano, and Emily Motyka. They range in age from 19 to 38.It is unclear if any of the five suspects had obtained a lawyer. In the US legal system, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.Police said Nordquist's body was discovered in a field on Thursday in the town of Benton, located around 53 miles (85 kilometres) southeast of Rochester.They said they searched a room about 20 miles away from where the body was found, where they uncovered that Nordquist had suffered "prolonged physical and psychological abuse at the hands of multiple individuals" from early December until this month.Police said they believe the victim lived at a motel with one of the suspects and others. They did not offer many specific details, saying their investigation is ongoing.But Major Kevin Sucher of the New York State Police said the facts and circumstances of the case were "beyond depraved" and "by far the worst" homicide investigation his office had undertaken."No human being should have to endure what Sam endured," Major Sucher said.Asked if the death is being treated as a hate crime, police said they had not ruled it out but added that their investigation remains active.Captain Kelly Swift with the New York State Police said police are still working to determine Nordquist's relationship with the suspects, as well as the suspects' relationship with one another.The death has been met with shock and anguish by members of the LGBTQ community.Rochester LGBTQ+ Together, a local advocacy group, said it was "angered and disgusted" to learn about the murder."The epidemic of violence against Trans folx in this country is a direct consequence of the ignorance and hatred that permeate our society," the group said. In a statement, three Rochester city council members - Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin and Kim Smith - said that hostility toward transgender people is rising."We reaffirm our commitment to protecting Trans rights, ensuring safety for all and wish to make clear that you belong—fully, openly, and without fear," they wrote.A 2021 study released by University of California, Los Angeles revealed that transgender people are over four times more likely than others to experience violence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Budapest mayor questioned over organising banned pride march
Budapest's mayor has been questioned by police as a suspect in helping to organise a banned LGBTQ march in the event took place on June 28 despite warnings of potential legal repercussions by Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose government passed a law earlier this year banning the say that despite threats of fines, a record 200,000 people took part in the rally, which swiftly descended into an anti-government a rainbow T-shirt featuring the capitals coat of arms, Mayor Gergely Karacsony, who appeared at Hungary's National Bureau of Investigation on Friday, told supporters: "Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest". If charged and convicted, Karacsony could face up to a year in prison for organising and encouraging participation in a banned march."They described the accusation. I said that I considered this to be unfounded and that I will lodge a complaint against it," Karacsony told a crowd of some 200 supporters and journalists who had gathered outside the building where he was questioned for more than an hour."Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest," said the mayor, who added: "If it cannot be banned, it cannot be punished."Accompanied by his lawyer, Karacsony did not answer any questions posed by investigators but instead presented them with a statement of his annual pride march had been in doubt since the government passed a law in March restricting gatherings if they break child protection laws on the public promotion on was the latest measure from Orban's government targeting Hungary's LGBTQ+ 2020, Hungary abolished its legal recognition of transgender people, and in 2021, the government passed a law banning the depiction of homosexuality to the ban, the mayor stood in defiance, vowing: "Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march as a local event on 28 June," and argued that police could not legally ban a municipal month, police announced they would not take action against attendees who could have faced fines of up to €500 (£427; $586) for attending the Pride Hungary's National Bureau of Investigation, which is tasked with investigating serious and complex crimes, said it had launched a probe against an "unknown perpetrator" accused of organising the rally.
JAMnews
a day ago
- JAMnews
LGBTQ+ rights in Azerbaijan
LGBTQ+ rights in Azerbaijan Legal and social protections for LGBTQ+ people in Azerbaijan are severely limited. While same-sex relationships are not criminalised, there are no laws that specifically protect their rights. This becomes especially clear in the prison system. International reports, available documentation, and personal accounts all show that LGBTQ+ individuals are subjected to significantly higher levels of physical, psychological, and institutional abuse while in custody. Social isolation and violence in prisons Azerbaijani LGBTQ activists at a Pride march in Germany, 16 July 2015. | Photo: Ghvinotsdaati There are no official statistics on LGBTQ+ prisoners in Azerbaijan, as the government does not systematically collect or publish such data. However, reports from human rights organisations help to partially fill this gap. According to interviews and reports by these organisations, trans women and gay men in prison are placed in separate cells and frequently subjected to violence — both from other inmates and from prison staff. Their gender and sexual identity often marks them as a 'lower caste,' leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and degrading treatment. In some cases, prison administrations have used sexual contact between trans inmates and men as a form of punishment. These individuals are officially isolated 'for their own protection,' but in reality, they are often exploited behind closed doors. In interviews, several trans women said prison staff had 'sold' them to other inmates for money. Although such testimony cannot be directly verified, multiple parallel accounts point to systemic violence. An article on OC Media, based on interviews with LGBTQ+ prisoners, reports that trans women are held in men's prisons and consistently subjected to abuse. One trans woman, Zinat, interviewed by OC Media, said: 'When I first entered prison, they spoke to me in a humiliating way and threatened to shave my head.' In another source, Nina, a trans woman, said: 'They wouldn't let me into the common area, saying it was because I'm a woman — yet at the same time, they 'sold' me to other inmates.' These accounts suggest that sexual exploitation within Azerbaijan's prison system is structural. A 2017 Human Rights Watch report titled Azerbaijan: Anti‑Gay Crackdown documented widespread torture and blackmail of detained gay men, bisexual men, and trans women. HRW noted that police were using electric shocks and beatings to extort bribes and gather names of other LGBTQ+ people. The report underscores the deliberate and brutal tactics used in the campaign. The report states that 83 people were detained that year, many of whom were sentenced to administrative detention ranging from 5 to 30 days on fabricated charges of resisting police or hooliganism. Human Rights Watch stated: 'Although the official charges were justified in the name of public health and morality, these measures amount to a flagrant violation of human rights.' Legal gaps and barriers to legal assistance In Azerbaijan, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is not addressed in the law. The current legal system is built entirely on a binary understanding of gender — male and female — and contains no legal protections for trans or non-binary people. While the Labour Code prohibits discrimination based on sex, religion, and race, it includes no provisions related to sexual orientation or gender identity. prohibits discrimination based on sex, religion, and race, it includes no provisions related to sexual orientation or gender identity. The Criminal Code recognises hate crimes only in the context of ethnicity and religion; violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not acknowledged. recognises hate crimes only in the context of ethnicity and religion; violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not acknowledged. The Penal Enforcement Code also lacks any specific protections for LGBTQ+ prisoners, increasing the risk of them being placed in male prisons and subjected to abuse. During the mass arrests of September 2017, LGBTQ+ people were mostly detained under administrative charges such as 'minor hooliganism' and 'disobeying a lawful police order.' Lawyers reported that court hearings lasted just 10 to 15 minutes, and many detainees were denied the right to legal counsel. Response from the UN and other international organisations In a statement issued on 13 October 2017, the United Nations noted that 'more than 80 people were detained in police raids targeting gay men and trans women, which began in September 2017 in Baku. Many were subjected to torture and forced medical examinations.' The statement also emphasised: 'International human rights law is clear: no one may be arrested for their sexual orientation or gender identity.' Following the 2017 events, relevant UN special rapporteurs and Human Rights Watch accused the Azerbaijani government of violating international legal standards. UN experts stated that arrest, torture, and forced medical testing based on a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation constitute a clear breach of the country's international obligations. International and regional comparison Georgian law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, a package of 'family values' laws passed in 2024 has curtailed the rights of trans and non-binary people. Armenia decriminalised same-sex relations back in 2003, but there is still no legal protection based on SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity). The Council of Europe has urged the country to implement reforms in this area. The situation in Eastern Europe remains mixed: while countries like Poland and Hungary have seen a rollback of LGBT rights, others — like Estonia — have made progress. Azerbaijan ranks last out of 49 countries on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index. Conclusion Research shows that the prison environment in Azerbaijan is unsafe for LGBTQ+ individuals — both physically and legally. Existing laws offer no specific protections, and the country's penitentiary system lacks effective oversight and complaint mechanisms. It is clear that this is a systemic issue, not a matter of isolated incidents. As a signatory to international human rights conventions, Azerbaijan has an obligation to reform its legislation to ensure the safety and rights of LGBTQ+ inmates. This includes better training for prison staff and the introduction of real accountability mechanisms. Without such reforms, the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in prisons remains not only a violation of basic justice, but part of a broader pattern of human rights abuse.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
An LGBTQ+ cafe's neon sign became a beacon for hate in Berlin
A neon sign proudly proclaiming "QUEER AND FRIENDS" inside the trendy Das Hoven cafe in Berlin was intended to signify a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. However, this beacon of inclusivity has now become a magnet for hate and homophobic attacks. Owner Danjel Zarte has revealed there are 45 pending criminal investigations linked to the establishment over the past 18 months. These incidents range from verbal and physical assaults on patrons and workers to property damage, including broken windows, defacement with faeces, and swastika graffiti. One individual was even seen brandishing a gun outside the premises. 'An act of terror,' Zarte said. "I sometimes have panic attacks in the morning and am afraid to look at my cell phone because I'm afraid that something has happened again.' Attacks against queer people and gay-friendly establishments are rising across Germany, including in Berlin, a city that has historically embraced the queer community. Last year, there was a 40% increase in violence targeting LGBTQ+ people in 12 of Germany 's 16 federal states as compared to 2023, according to the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Antisemitic Violence. Activists say those figures only show a fraction of the probem's scope because victims are often afraid to come forward. They partly blame the rise of the far-right across Europe, including in Germany where the Alternative for Germany party made significant gains in the February election. Hostility toward LGBTQ+ people serves as a 'rallying cry' for believers in right-wing extremism, according to Judith Porath, the association's managing director. Experts have seen an increase in demonstrations and violence among neo-Nazis, most of whom are young men. Bastian Finke, the head of MANEO, an organization tracking anti-gay violence in the capital city, said those who are openly queer on Berlin's roads 'automatically run a very, very high risk simply because of who they are. To be attacked, to be insulted, to be spat on. We have these scenarios every day.' The fear was palpable at Saturday's Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin. The annual Pride event commemorates the 1969 Stonewall rebellion in New York City, when a spontaneous street uprising was triggered by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. 'The mood is actually tense: People are afraid, they are unsettled," Thomas Hoffmann, a member of the event's executive board, said Saturday. Hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the celebration, dancing to techno beats as they marched to the iconic Brandenburg Gate. "That is really a powerful, wonderful sign for more equality,' Hoffmann added. Hoffmann and others have long wanted German lawmakers to amend the constitution to explicitly include the legal protection of queer people from discrimination based on gender identity. But that looks unlikely to become a political priority. For Zarte, the stress of hate crimes and politics is nonstop, except during the Christopher Street Day parade, which always brings him to tears. "It is very moving to feel completely accepted once a year," he said.
