Killed for Love

Photos and Words by Ruddy Roye.

Ruddy Roye explores the recent epidemic of hate crimes in New York City, bringing awareness to a city’s surprising intolerance.

“WHAT WAS HIS NAME…MARK CARSON!” This was the cry at a rally staged by the #antiviolenceproject to denounce violence against gay people in all communities. The rally came on the heel of a recent homicide where, according to the NYPD and media reports, two gay men were walking down the street when they got into a conflict with two other men. One of the gay men, Mark Carson, was subsequently shot in the face after being threatened by the alleged shooter. He later died from the injury. The NYPD reports that during the conflict the suspect or his companion made anti-gay remarks and that the homicide is being investigated as an anti-LGBT bias case.

The debate on this topic can easily become volatile as representatives from both sides continue to hold steadfast to their beliefs, even as the Supreme Court is set to uphold or strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. As a Jamaican, I find myself in a strange place; understanding the need for some to be free to marry whoever they choose, and at the same time understanding why a culture would push back and reject being told to accept gay marriage. The one thing I am sure about is that no one should lose their lives over choosing to love who they want to love.

To dive further into this issue, I went to the Queens Pride Parade armed with two questions…

What do you think is contributing
to the increase in violence against the gay community?

How do you think these perpetrators should be punished?