Murdered for voguing: Scenes from a moving demonstration against hate

Protesters took over a Midwood gas station Friday where dancer O’Shae Sibley was fatally stabbed for voguing a week ago

Several hundred people solemnly gathered outside a gas station in the Midwood section of Brooklyn Friday where a week before dancer O’Shae Sibley was fatally stabbed after being confronted for dancing as his friends filled their car.

The shocking murder — which has been declared a hate crime by officials — stunned the LGBTQ community. Sibley, one of 11 siblings, had gotten out of the car to dance to Beyoncé’s “Renaissance,” when he and his friends were met with slurs for voguing, the highly stylized form of house dance popular in the city’s Black queer and trans community.

People gather at a gas station in the Midwood neighborhood where Sibley was murdered a week ago (Stephanie Keith)

Local trans activist Qween Jean headed up a group of dancers and allies to take over the area in front of gas station for a memorial and vogue session while wearing t-shirts that read “Vogue as an act of resistance.” In attendance was Honey Balenciaga, one of Beyoncé’s dancers.

Attendees first laid flowers at a makeshift memorial, then several members of the community spoke to the crowd about the impact of Sibley’s death. “O’Shae Sibley was a beloved member of the community,” Jean announced.

‘Vogue as an act of resistance’ (Photo by Stephanie Keith)

The crowd chanted, “We love you O’Shae Sibley” and “No justice no peace,” during the speak-outs. Once the speakers concluded, the crowed took over the street to participate in vogue dancing to reclaim the space.

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Photographer Stephanie Keith has these photos from the demonstration. A 17-year-old suspect arrested in the stabbing has been charged with murder as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon, officials said at a news conference on Saturday. “This is a city where you are free to express yourself, and that expression should never end with any form of violence,” Mayor Eric Adams said.

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Photo by Stephanie Keith

Qween Jean marches as another carries a portrait of O’Shae Sibley (Stephanie Keith)

Stephanie Keith

Stephanie Keith has lived in Brooklyn for the past 25 years — the longest she's lived anywhere — and has been a photographer for 20 of those years, covering all kinds of stories about sub-cultures, religion and politics for news organizations big and small.