Pride at Work mourns Sam Nordquist

 Pride at Work AFL-CIO, Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter, mourns the passing of Sam Nordquist, a trans man from Minnesota who came to New York looking for a better life and instead was brutally tortured and murdered. Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the state police troop that includes the Finger Lakes region, said the facts and circumstances of the case were "beyond depraved" and "by far the worst" homicide investigation the office has ever been part of.

This is not an isolated incident.  Across the country there is an escalation of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks by those influenced by the far-right political establishment. Sam’s murder is a direct result of the divisive hate mongering and non-binary cultural erasure espoused by the Trump administration.  Any mention of Transgender is now gone from official government websites.  The National Park Service has tried to erase the historic trans presence at the Stonewall Riot, by taking the “TQ+” off the memorial plaque in New York City.  Locally a small group of extremists are attacking anything LGBTQ+ related in schools.  Such actions are a direct attack on the individual rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ citizens.

Pride at Work has always fought for equal treatment of all people and will continue to support and defend our Trans siblings.  Trans rights are human rights, and we’ll continue our fight for justice. Join the community on Monday, February 17, 6:00pm – 8:00pm for a “Trans Resilience” vigil at Wood Library, 134 N Main Street in Canandaigua.

 

Bess Watts
President
Pride at Work AFL-CIO – Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter