After calls for action from LGBTQ+ members of the New York City Council, the NYPD is investigating a disturbing spree of assaults, robberies, and killings affecting members of the LGBTQ+ community in Hell’s Kitchen. The victims, John Umberger, 33, and Julio Ramirez, 25, appear to have been drugged before having their bank accounts drained. Community leaders are encouraging nightlife patrons to practice extra vigilance and are directing LGBTQ+ members to an anti-violence hotline to limit community interaction with police, who have historically and presently engaged in violent repression of the LGBTQ+ community.
Lambda Legal has filed a lawsuit against the United States military on behalf of three plaintiffs living with HIV, challenging the Pentagon’s ban on HIV-positive recruits. The plaintiffs argue that the ban is incompatible with contemporary advancements in medicine, which allow HIV-positive patients on consistent treatment to have the same life expectancy as non-reactive patients.