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Compiled By GayToday
Ronald Gay |
Roanoke, Virginia—Ronald Gay, 55, often ridiculed because of his last name, and reported
to have opened fire in the Backstreet Café, a gay bar, killing one and wounding six, has
described himself as a "Christian soldier working for my Lord" in his letter received
Friday at the Roanoke Times. |
"Jesus does not want these (gay) people in his heaven," he explained. Roanoke Times reporter
Tad Dickens tells how Gay's "rambling, nearly indecipherable letter" condemns homosexuals
and how the accused, without admitting his guilt, promises that: "When I am gone another will
take my place."
Gay urges all gay men and lesbians to move to "their city" (San Francisco) or that "their
meeting places and bars will be destroyed with them."
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The alleged killer, who, police say has confessed, goes on trial during the week of May 21st
accused not only of the murder of Danny Overstreet but of the severe woundings of
six other customers in the Café. An Assistant Public Defender, Roger Dalton,
appeared frustrated when told of Gay's letter to the Roanoke Times. "Well that's just lovely,"
Dalton is reported to have said.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John McNeil told the Times reporter that while he'd
never heard Gay refer to himself specifically as a "Christian soldier" that his statements
following his arrest did, in fact, contain "religious undertones."
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Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
1 Dead, Six Wounded in a Roanoke, Virginia Gay Bar
Major Setback Given
Hate Crime Law by GOP Leadership
Jerry Falwell Urges Zealots
to Oppose Hate Crime Law
Related Sites:
Roanoke 7 Memorial Site
Roanoke Times
GayToday does not endorse related sites.
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Three of Gay's sons had changed their names to avoid the embarrassments their father had
faced, a development about which Gay is believed to be particularly bitter. Gay faces
seven terms of 20 years to life on the murder and wounding charges, and at least 40 years on
the firearms charges.
His letter to the Times is redolent of such anti-gay charges of pedophilia and promiscuity
as have emanated from Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, D. James Kennedy,
and other reputed ministers of the Christian Gospel.
Anna Sparks (left) was one of the witnesses to the shooting |
The man murdered by Gay, Danny Lee Overstreet, was well-loved by both family and
friends who remembered him as kindly and good-humored. At the time of the murder
Overstreet's mother wept: "He's my youngest, my baby!"
According to witnesses, Gay fired approximately eight rounds. Backstreet Café customers
were sent ducking for cover. Overstreet, who was seated near the killer, took bullets
to the chest. He fell to the floor and died within minutes. |
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