Letter Threatens to Burn Down Planned LGBT Housing: ‘We Are Targeting You’
Police are investigation expletive-filled letters sent to a Long Island gay advocacy group, including one on Thursday which threatened to burn down a planned housing center for gay seniors and kill its leader.
David Kilmnick, CEO of Long Island GLBT Network, said the center received identical letters at its Woodbury center in Nassau and its Bay Shore center in Suffolk on Thursday.
:
[su_center_ad]The letter stated in part, “Thought you got the message we are targeting you.”
The message went on to say the senior housing, “won’t be safe.”
“You are not safe, you are being tracked … It is just a matter of time until the right moments arrive to eliminate you and your locations, and the ‘safehouse’ is burned to the ground,” the letter stated.
Officials announced Tuesday that a 50-unit development is planned for senior lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents at a Bay Shore site.
NBC New York reports:
Kilmnick said it’s the second letter the group has received in the past four months and the third in the last 18 months, and that each has gotten progressively more violent and threatening.
A past letter threatened to turn the Long Island Pride Parad
“These letters are a reminder that we still live in a world that is not safe and where hate and violence against the GLBT community is still an issue that we need to be vigilant about and attack head on,” said Kilmnick.“We have made sure to alert all our staff to be cognizant of our surroundings, parking lots and hallways to ensure the safety of everyone,” he said.
The letters were turned over to the Suffolk and Nassau police departments, Kilmnick said. Police confirmed they were investigating.
“Getting these letters, which are extremely degrading, hateful, homophobic and violent in nature, is certainly unnerving,” Kilmnick said. “You know, I think the intent of this individual or individuals is to scare and put us back in the closet, and that’s not going to happen.”
Watch courtesy of CBS New York:
tracey marie October 11th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Why must the fearful, uneducated phony xtians always resort to violence nad hate?
Pat Padrnos October 11th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
I wish I had an answer – but I don’t. Have never understood the fear and hate the “uneducated phony xtians” possess. Have to think their brains are just wired differently. Feel so badly for those people trying to do good work. I have a lesbian daughter – and through her have met so many wonderful gay people. Love everyone of them – and have great empathy for the many slights they endure.
tracey marie October 11th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Good for you for supporting and loving your child with no conditions
William October 11th, 2014 at 3:02 pm
“I wish I had an answer but I don’t…. “have met so many wonderful gay people. Love everyone of them” .
Actually you DO have the answer. I suspect that you always have.
edmeyer_able October 11th, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Hoping they remain strong and vigilant. The people who sent those letters have no place in a civilized society.
jasperjava October 11th, 2014 at 2:45 pm
You would think that homophobes would WANT separate facilities for LGBT folks, so that they wouldn’t have to share their space with the people they hate.
But logic is never the strong point for hateful bigots, I guess.
Dwendt44 October 11th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
I guess separate facilities would be better than them living among the haters. But they’d prefer the LGBT folks didn’t live at all me thinks.
mea_mark October 11th, 2014 at 3:12 pm
They are probably more afraid of the power that comes when people of like mindedness come together.
tiredoftea October 11th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Right wing clowns sure love their anonymous and threatening letters! Must come from their love of it in their politics and campaign donations. Courage through and through all along the line for fringe righties.
Bob Cronos October 11th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
How is it legal to create housing for gay people only?
William October 11th, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Well as I understand it, it’s not exclusive, but rather gay LGBT friendly. You might have a point, but the discussion here isn’t the legality of the housing. The discussion is about the much more serious issue of murder and arson. I sorta’ noticed you skipped right over that.
Now if you’ll excuse me I need to write a post to the State concerning that discriminatory “veterans home”.
OldLefty October 11th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
EXACTLY.
“Gay friendly” does not mean “gay exclusive”.
William October 11th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
“How do you prove you’re gay?”
There are tests.
tracey marie October 11th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
same way that jews, christians, blacks, whites, actors, old people have dedicated housing that is NOT federally funded. Private enterprise is a beautiful thing
rg9rts October 12th, 2014 at 11:46 am
Wonder where Pete King stands on this issue