L.I. LGBT Advocacy Group Undeterred By Threatening Letters
BAY SHORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The chief executive officer of an LGBT advocacy group said he will not be intimidated or deterred by a series of hateful letters, including one that threatened to kill its leader and burn down a housing complex.
David Kilmnick, chief executive officer of Long Island GLBT Services Network, said identical expletive-laced letters were received Thursday at the group's Bay Shore headquarters and Woodbury office.
LI Gay Advocacy Group Receives Threatening Letters
As CBS 2's Sonia Rincon reported, the identical letters said in part: "It won't be safe. It is just a matter of time until the right moments arrive to eliminate you."
But Kilmnick, was out of town and spoke to CBS 2 by FaceTime on Friday, said he and the group will continue to do the important work of giving LGBT Long Islanders a safe place to go.
"Getting these letters, which are extremely degrading, hateful, homophobic and violent in nature, is certainly unnerving," Kilmnick said. "You know, I think the intent of this individual or individuals is to scare and put us back in the closet, and that's not going to happen."
The latest letters arrived two days after officials announced plans for the Tri-State area's first affordable housing development for senior lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender residents. The 50-unit development is planned for a site in Bay Shore. It would be the fifth in the country.
"Thought you got the message we are targeting you," part of the letters read.
It went on to say that the new Bay Shore development "won't be safe."
"You are not safe...you are being tracked...it is just a matter of time until the right moments arrive to eliminate you and your locations, and the 'safehouse' is burned to the ground," the letter read.
LI Gay Advocacy Group Receives Threatening Letters
These were the third and fourth threatening letters the network has received in the last year and a half. The earlier two letters were sent in June of last year and June of this year, coinciding with Long Island Pride Week.
"They threatened to make it like the Boston Marathon bombing and then there was one we received two days before the Pride Parade this year," Kilmnick said.
All of the letters were typed in boldface print on 8 1/2-inc by 11-inch plain white paper, Kilmnick said.
"We've had these tremendous advances in GLBT equality, but that doesn't necessarily equate to safety," Kilmnick said. "These letters are a stark reminder of not only what's happening to us and our organization, but to the people we serve out there."
Suffolk County police said they are investigating the threats as hate crimes.
"We are still looking for help from the public in identifying persons who may be responsible for this," said Suffolk County Detective Sgt. James Brierton. "We currently are having the letter analyzed for physical evidence that may be available to us."
Kilmnick said he hopes anyone who can help will come forward.
"Eventually this person or persons are going to slip up, and I think it's real important for the public to know that this individual or individuals are going to brag about this eventually," Kilmnick said. "And so if someone says something to you, say something to someone else."
In the meantime, police said they're increasing patrols at the networks locations and his house.
Suffolk County Police are asking anyone with information about the person or persons responsible to call the Hate Crimes Unit at 631-852-6181 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
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