The November 1993 death of Nicholas West touched off a statewide movement to enact stronger hate crimes laws. The Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas organized a rally that drew 2,000 supporters to Bergfield Park in Tyler, a gay gathering place where West was picked up by a man who turned out to be his killer. Joined by two others, the man drove West to a remote location where he was beaten and shot several times.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
