“New York City’s reputation for diversity, inclusiveness and open-mindedness is known the world over. People flock to our beautiful City and find acceptance and love. That makes the senseless murder of Mark Carson this weekend all the more horrifying. In this very dark time, the City must stand together and make it clear that hatred, bigotry and ignorance will never be tolerated. As New Yorkers, we must not sit idly by when one among us is brutally victimized. Instead, we must stand together and transcend the differences that separate us. Every man, woman and child in this City, regardless of sexual preference or gender identity, should have the right to walk the streets with pride and in the absence of fear. My thoughts and prayers are with Carson family, and every LGBTQ person in this City: together we have won many victories, but the struggle continues.”