What happened in my village? писать сочинение

The brutal killing of a gay man in New York's Greenwich Village has many wondering if New York is no longer a safe place for gays.

Police say on Monday, May 20, suspect Elliot Morales yelled an anti-gay slur at 32-year-old Mark Carson before firing a single bullet point blank to Carson's face, killing him instantly.

Greenwich Village is long known as one of the most vibrant areas for LGBTQ people in New York. It has a long gay rights history and remained a hub for gay politics in America. In 1969, what became known as the Stonewall Riots began there and since annual pride parades have been held in cities around the globe.

Recent years and financial mobility in New York have resulted in a dynamic mix of communities in the area. Long evolving gentrification has given way to a mingling of gay and straight young professionals, older gays in long residence there, and urban youth from both New York and nearby New Jersey who see the Village as a vibrant hang out spot. What was once a gay underground turn center for political action is now residence for the trendy and home to those who found shelter and safety among the many gay businesses, bars and pedestrians.

It's difficult to say whether this shift is a contributor to the heinous act of violence, but the events of the crime do signal a criminal brazenness that have some wondering if New York is reverting to a pre-Stonewall sentiment toward LGBT people. I don't want to imply that since the Stonewall Riots, New York gained an immunity to homophobia or hate crimes. In fact, Stonewall merely highlighted an existing attitude that lingers among some New Yorkers, despite the city's progressive reputation. The murder of Mark Carson is the latest of many hate crimes at the hands of those that continue to see LGBT people as a threat.

Since Monday, thousands of people have gathered at the scene of the crime to give their respects and honored Carson's life with a new, yet familiar cry: "We're here! We're queer! Homophobia's got to go!"