Beyoncé honors gay man murdered for dancing to her music

Beyoncé used her personal website to honor O’Shea Sibley, the 28-year-old Black gay dancer who was stabbed to death in a gas station parking lot for voguing to her music.

Concurrently, Black and queer Twitter users also commemorated Sibley, expressing outrage over his death and sharing a crowdfunding campaign for his burial costs.

Related:

Out congressman gave an impassioned tribute to Beyoncé on the House floor

“She stood up for voting rights, for feminism, for women and girls, for my community—the LGBTQ+ community.”

The Grammy-winning performer wrote “Rest in Power O’Shea Sibley” on her website. He was voguing to a song from her 2022 album Renaissance, which largely features Black and queer house music, before a 17-year-old confronted him, told him to stop, allegedly called him anti-LGBTQ+ slurs, and then stabbed him in the chest before departing in a vehicle. The incident was captured on video. Police haven’t made an arrest and are investigating the murder as a possible hate crime.

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In the liner notes for Renaissance, Beyoncé thanked her gay uncle as the album’s “inspiration.” The album won the 2022 Grammy for Best Dance/Electronica Album, making her the first Black woman to win in that category. During her acceptance speech, she said, “I’d like to thank the queer community for your love, and for inventing the genre. God bless you.”

Black and queer Twitter users honored Sibley and shared a link to a GoFundMe campaign raising funds for his burial. As of August 1, the campaign had raised $29,696, well over its initial $10,000 goal.

On the crowdfunding page, Sibley’s father Jake Kelly wrote, “O’shae not only was the glue to this family, he was a great dancer and performer for the majority of his life. His spirit lit up every room he stepped in. His smile was contagious! To know him, was to live him. He did not deserve this. Everyone loved his spirit.”

On Twitter, Brooklyn-based choreographer @wenwinsituation wrote, “In 2016, I got to choreograph a piece that O’Shae Sibley was a part of. He had such a gentle soul, was so hardworking, and just a great energy to be around. The news of his murder is quite jarring. And all because a group of men didn’t like his dancing. it’s painful. RIP O’Shae.”

He's the soloist in the beginning and on the left in the duet.

— wen (@wenwinsituation) August 1, 2023

Amherst College English professor @DrFrankRoberts wrote, “THEY KILLED HIM FOR VOGUING. he was 28 years young. i am completely undone with rage. you should be too. o’shae sibley: we speak your name.”

a young man was murdered this weekend in new york city for voguing to beyonce’s “renaissance” in public.

THEY KILLED HIM FOR VOGUING.

he was 28 years young.

i am completely undone with rage. you should be too.

o'shae sibley: we speak your name. https://t.co/mhHddF41hM

— Dr. Frank Leon Roberts (@DrFrankRoberts) July 31, 2023

A queer cast member of the Bravo TV reality show Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard, Preston Mitchum wrote, “A Black gay man was killed over an ‘altercation’ because a straight man wanted him to stop voguing…. Black queer joy is under attack, not masculinity. Be clear. Rest in Peace, O’Shae Sibley.”

A Black gay man was killed over an “altercation” because a straight man wanted him to stop voguing.

He was killed.

Over him voguing.

Black queer joy is under attack, not masculinity.

Be clear.

Rest in Peace, O’Shae Sibley. 🖤🙏🏾

— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) August 1, 2023

Transgender civil rights activist Alejandra Caraballo posted a screenshot of a New York Times about Sibley’s stabbing and wrote, “Hate is alive and well.”

O'Shae Sibley, a gay black man, was dancing at a gas station when a group of men hurled anti gay slurs and murdered him.

Hate is alive and well.

Rest in power O'Shae. pic.twitter.com/UZO0wDjear

— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) July 31, 2023

Nonbinary public speaker Dana White wrote, “O’Shae Sibley was stabbed to death for voguing to Beyonce. In New York City. His older gay neighbor told the Times he warned him about being so visible, saw the looks, heard disgruntled comments about ‘all the rights’ we have. In 2023, that’s how far we are from freedom.”

O’Shae Sibley was stabbed to death for voguing to Beyonce. In New York City. His older gay neighbor told the Times he warned him about being so visible, saw the looks, heard disgruntled comments about “all the rights” we have.

In 2023, that’s how far we are from freedom.

— Dana White (@ItsDanaWhite) July 31, 2023