CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Hundreds gathered in Canandaigua to honor Sam Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, whose body was found in Yates County last week.
The vigil was organized by Family Counseling of the Finger Lakes.
“Sam’s life mattered. And if there is any type of hate crime, this would be one,” a mourner stated.
The vigil, initially held at the Wood Library, moved to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua due to the large turnout. Over 120 mourners attended, highlighting the community’s support.
Mimi Weicher, a 16-year-old from Batavia, traveled over 50 miles to pay her respects.
“People die every day, but this is serious. Somebody was brutally tortured…nobody should die, especially people, just because they’re trans,” she said.
Pastor Eileen Casey-Campbell emphasized the importance of unity during this time.
“It’s heartwarming to see the queer community come together in the Finger Lakes,” she said. “The emotional needs are huge right now.”
Danni Scott, a fellow trans man, shared his brief interactions with Nordquist.
“I just want his family to know that there were periods of time where Sam was… He was okay,” Scott said.
Scott expressed a newfound openness about his identity.
“Before Sam’s death, I was not very open about being a trans man, but seeing Sam’s story makes me want to be more open,” he stated.
New York State Police and the Ontario County District Attorney currently do not believe Nordquist’s murder was a hate crime.
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