Kristian Miranda grieves for his dearly departed friend, O’Shae Sibley.
“What bothers me is that I didn’t know that was gonna be the last time I saw my friend,” Miranda said.
The 28-year-old dancer was stabbed to death outside a Brooklyn gas station early Sunday morning while doing what he loved: vogueing to a Beyoncé song.
What You Need To Know
- Friends and activists held a vigil outside the Stonewall Inn on Thursday to show support for O’Shae Sibley and fellow members of the LGBTQ community
- The 28-year-old dancer was stabbed to death outside a Brooklyn gas station early Sunday morning while doing what he loved: vogueing to a Beyoncé song
- The NYPD is investigating Sibley’s death as a possible hate crime
“It makes me scared every day,” Miranda said. “I vogue on the street every day.”
Friends and activists held a vigil outside the Stonewall Inn on Thursday to show support for members of the LGBTQ community who are hurting and fearful in the wake of Sibley’s death.
“As New Yorkers, as people who largely chose New York as our home because of the safety that we knew coming here, it’s vital when we take public stands when incidents of this level happen,” said Jay W. Walker, president of Gays Against Guns.
Surveillance video shows the moment before Sibley was killed at a Mobil gas station in Midwood. Witnesses say some residents were angry that Sibley and his friends were dancing to music at 1:30 a.m. and asked them to stop for religious reasons.
According to witnesses, that led to a confrontation, and then one of the men allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Sibley.
“New York is known for being a liberal place where so many people come to be themselves, but there are pockets of hate,” said John Young, a longtime activist for LGBTQ+ rights.
Sibley and Miranda were involved in the Ballroom scene — a subculture spearheaded by Black and Latino drag queens in the late 1960s.
Miranda says Ballroom gave Sibley a family and a community on which he could rely.
“Ballroom is chosen family,” Miranda said. “That’s what really brought us together. It’s Ballroom. And of course voguing. Voguing is an expression. It’s a feeling inside.”
Beyoncé posted the message “REST IN POWER O’SHAE SIBLEY” on her official website.
Miranda says he hopes Sibley will be remembered for his talent and the unconditional love he gave to the world.
“He had a dream,” said Miranda. “His dream was to perform, to do things that others wished they could do. He was always a beacon light, hopeful, kind.”
A memorial service will be held on Saturday.
The NYPD is investigating Sibley’s death as a possible hate crime.