A man in Minnesota was sentenced to 30 years after killing a trans woman, Connecticut launched an LGBTQ tourism campaign, and an LGBTQ club in Alabama had its license pulled following a homicide.
Man Sentenced to 30 Years After Murdering Trans Woman
A Minneapolis man convicted of murdering a trans woman last fall was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The sentence was the maximum amount of time he could have received on the charge.
The man, Damarean Bible, said the victim, Savannah Williams, offered him sex at a local bus stop, according to CBS News. He agreed and they walked to a nearby courtyard. When they were finished, he shot her in the head because she “made him feel suspicious.”
The Queer Legislative Caucus said it was a “senseless murder” that “not only extinguishes a vibrant life but serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and discrimination faced by sex workers and transgender individuals, particularly BIPOC transgender women, and femmes.”
LGBTQ Tourism Campaign Launches in Response to Florida
Photo via ctvisit.com.
In response to the removal of LGBTQ travel material on Florida’s tourism website, Connecticut is launching a new campaign to welcome queer tourists.
According to CT Insider, the state said the new ad campaign will include digital outreach to LGBTQ people in Florida, "inviting them to discover what makes Connecticut a welcoming alternative."
Connecticut will highlight LGBTQ-friendly businesses, communities and events on its tourism website, CTvisit.com, throughout October.
Anthony Anthony, Connecticut's chief marketing officer, said it hopes LGBTQ people find the state to be a safe space.
“Our message is clear," Anthony said in a news release. "In Connecticut, everyone is welcome."
LGBTQ Club’s License Pulled After Homicide
Photo via Google Maps.
An LGBTQ club in Birmingham, called The Quest Club, had its license taken away by the city council after it was deemed unsafe.
The club had agreed to follow safety guidelines, such as required gun screenings at entry, following a double homicide that occurred at the location in May. Two officers showed up at the bar last week, and said no security measures were being followed, according to AL.com.
Birmingham Police Sgt. Kenneth Knight said officers had been called to Quest Club 109 times in the past year, and 44 times in the last six months.
Richard Mauk, an attorney for the Quest, said it produces over $83,000 in annual sales tax revenue for the city.
City Council member J.T. Moore said the decision wasn’t a financial one.
“What is the cost of a life?” Moore said. “Y’all do not deserve to be open.”
Moore continued: “I believe that you all are very unserious about this situation. Your establishment is a serious hazard. People take a risk every time they step inside it that they will possibly be killed.”
