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Meanwhile, Thursday Night Roanoke Vigil Planned; Fund Established for Medical Expenses

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Monday joined Virginia residents in urging Sen. John Warner to reconsider his opposition to hate crimes legislation, and use his position as a Senate conferee to help pass a hate crimes bill out of a House-Senate conference committee.

Late last Friday, a suspect identified by police as Ronald Edward Gay, 53, walked into the Backstreet Café in Roanoke, ordered a beer and after a few minutes, pulled a handgun from his coat and opened fire. One person, Danny Lee Overstreet, was killed and six people were injured.

In a letter sent to Sen. Warner, NGLTF and Virginia activists said that as one of four Senate conferees currently negotiating the impasse on hate crimes legislation, Warner "has the ability and therefore responsibility to ensure that the existing federal hate crimes law is expanded to cover crimes based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender or disability."

"Senator Warner, we trust that as a fellow Virginian you are as devastated as we by the senseless brutality of this crime in our home state," the letter stated. "But we also know that sometimes local communities need federal help to deal with hate violence. And we know that if even one senseless act of violence can be prevented by the message that a federal bill can send, the legislation will be well worth it."

Meanwhile, activists in Roanoke, Virginia announced that a vigil for the seven victims of last week's shooting in a local bar will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Elmwood Park Ampitheatre at the corner of Jefferson and Elm in downtown Roanoke. Activists also announced that a fund has been established to help with medical expenses for the six survivors of Friday night's shootings as well as counseling services for bar patrons who witnessed the shootings. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the fund or wishing to express their condolences to the Overstreet family or to any of the shooting victims should write:

The Roanoke Seven Fund
C/O Christ the Good Shepherd
American Catholic Church
P.O. Box 3359
Roanoke, VA 24015

IMPORTANT NOTE: When sending condolences, please indicate on the envelope the name of the person or persons to whom your condolences are intended (i.e., the Overstreet family).

NGLTF has dispatched field organizer Dan Hawes to Roanoke to help local activists organize and respond to the shootings. Media representatives seeking more information should contact the NGLTF Communications Department at 202-332-6483, ext. 3303, or call Rev. Catherine Houchins of Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge at 540-344-4444 or Rev. Tony Hash of the Christ the Good Shepherd American Catholic Church at 540-725-5142.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.