Gay bar shootings in Virginia
There have been two recorded fatal shootings at gay bars in the U.S. state of Virginia which contribute to the history of violence against LGBT people in the United States.
Incidents
[edit]Male Box shooting (1977)
[edit]The Male Box (formerly known as "Smitty's") was a gay men's bar and eatery that was located in "The Block" gay community of Richmond, Virginia. In 1977, shots were fired in the Male Box, injuring two patrons and killing one man, Albert Thomas. The incident caused widespread fear among the gay community in Richmond and Virginia and was regarded by members of the local gay community as a homophobic hate crime.[1] The shooting was a result of the business dealings and criminal activities of Leo Joseph Koury (1934–1991), a well-known figure in the Block community who had exploited the gay community for several years. In 1978, a grand jury charged Koury with murder, racketeering, and other offenses that occurred at several gay bars, including the Male Box shooting.[2]
Backstreet Cafe shooting (2000)
[edit]The Backstreet Cafe is a bar in Roanoke, Virginia that largely catered to gay men.[3][4] On September 22, 2000, Ronald Gay, armed with a Sturm, Ruger & Co. 9mm pistol that had a 10 round magazine, entered the bar and opened fire with 8 bullets on the patrons, killing Danny Overstreet, 43 years old, and severely injuring six others.[5][6] He was captured by police within 10 minutes.[7] Ronald said he was angry over what his surname had now come to meant. In court, Gay also testified that he had been told by God to find and kill lesbians and gay men, describing himself as a "Christian Soldier working for my Lord."[8] He also testified that "he wished he could have killed more fags."[9] His brother, William Gay, said that Ronald was not homophobic, but suffered from Post-traumatic stress disorder and Schizophrenia after serving in the Vietnam War.[10] The shooting came one week after members of Roanoke's LGBT community held a gay pride festival.[11]
After the 2000 shooting at the Backstreet Cafe, LGBT residents and activists gathered to hold vigils, with over 1,000 people walking through the streets of downtown Roanoke to honor the life of Overstreet. The shooting prompted urges to members of Congress to enact federal hate crimes legislation to protect individuals on the basis of sexual orientation.[4] On July 23, 2001, Gay was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for his crimes. He died on January 15, 2022, of natural causes while being treated at a hospital.[12]
See also
[edit]- Gun violence in the United States
- Violence against LGBT people
- History of violence against LGBT people in the United States
- LGBT rights in Virginia
References
[edit]- ^ "Timeline of LGBT History in Virginia and the United States" (PDF). DHR Virginia LGBTQ Heritage project. p. 19. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Networks, Hornet (August 30, 2021). "The Strange Tale of Leo Koury, "Godfather of the Gay Community" in Richmond, Virginia". Hornet. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Kennett, Lindsey (November 21, 2022). "Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ community reacts to deadly Colorado gay club shooting". WSLS. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "After a Va. queer bar shooting, LGBTQ residents decided they'd had enough". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Cawley, Jon (September 24, 2000). "Victim's family remembers his joy: Danny Overstreet was outgoing, but not political". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Times, Kimberly O'Brien | The Roanoke (September 24, 2000). "Police: Backstreet Cafe gunman hunted gays". Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Villarreal, Daniel. "Ronald Gay went on a shooting rampage at a gay bar. 22 years later he's dead too". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Stern, Mark Joseph (June 12, 2016). "The Long, Tragic History of Violence at LGBTQ Clubs in America". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ "Murder charge for gay-bar gunman". BBC News. September 25, 2000. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Leef; Laris, Michael (September 26, 2000). "Suspect Not Homophobic, Brother Says". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ "Man Opens Fire on Gay Bar". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Williamson, Jeff (January 19, 2022). "Man responsible for deadly Backstreet Cafe shooting dies while serving multiple life sentences". WSLS. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
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- 1977 mass shootings in the United States
- 1977 murders in the United States
- 2000 in Virginia
- 2000 mass shootings in the United States
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- Attacks on bars in the United States
- Attacks on buildings and structures in 1977
- Attacks on buildings and structures in 2000
- Attacks on buildings and structures in Virginia
- Attacks on nightclubs in the United States
- Christian terrorist incidents in the United States
- Deaths by firearm in Virginia
- LGBTQ history in Virginia
- Mass shootings in Virginia
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- Violence against gay men in the United States
- Terrorist incidents in Virginia
- Terrorist incidents in the United States in 1977
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