NYC: Ceremony for murdered gay rights activist
A memorial service has taken place for a gay rights activist who was killed last month in New York.
Friends, family and elected officials gathered on Saturday to remember Lou Rispoli.
Police have said the 62-year-old NYC resident died shortly after he was attacked by three men with a blunt object on 20 October in Sunnyside, Queens.
Mr Rispoli’s partner of 31 years Danyal Lawson described the victim as “an incredible person” who “took care of everyone.”
He died of his injuries five days after Mr Lawson made the decision to take him off life support.
The couple were married on 24 July 2011, the first day that gay couples in New York could legally marry.
Police are offering a $25,000 (£15,700) reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
According to the New York Daily News, Mr Rispoli revealed his partner, who often had trouble sleeping, was going to a grocery store when the attack happened during the early hours of the morning.
“He said ‘I’m going to get milk’ and that was it,” said Mr Rispoli. “It’s just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. It doesn’t make sense.”
