Upstate New York town adopts inclusion resolution in wake of trans man Sam Nordquist's death

Canandaigua town hall and Sam Nordquist

Canandaigua, N.Y., where Nordquist had been staying before his killing, wants to make clear it's a welcoming place for all.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

Read Full Bio

Trudy Ring

February 28 2025 6:28 PM EST

trudestress

Sorry to interrupt...
But we wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Your support makes original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Help us hold Trump accountable.

One-time Monthly

$19.67 $50 Other

$5 $19.67 $50

The City Council of Canandaigua, N.Y., where transgender man Sam Nordquist had been staying before his killing and where he was last seen alive, has passed a resolution stating the city is welcoming to all.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

“The city of Canandaigua will continue to be proactive in making services and programs accessible and open to all individuals, and protecting the rights of citizens and visitors to live, work and play in a safe, inclusive and welcoming Canandaigua community,” the resolution says in part, according to Rochester, N.Y.’s, Democrat & Chronicle. The council passed the measure Wednesday.

“The city firmly rejects bigotry, hate and all forms of discrimination,” it continues. “The city affirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals who have been historically marginalized are respected, valued and can live peacefully, with dignity, and without fear of discrimination. The city pledges to uphold these principles in all aspects of city governance and community life.”

Nordquist, who had traveled from Minnesota to upstate New York last fall to be with a girlfriend, was killed after having been tortured since December. His body was found February 13 in a field in Benton, N.Y., about 15 miles from Patty’s Lodge, a motel in Canandaigua where he had been staying. Seven people have been charged with second-degree murder, and the investigation is continuing.