You are reading

Documentary about the murder of Julio Rivera to be screened Friday

Julio Rivera

Julio Rivera

Oct. 14, 2015 By Michael Florio

A documentary about the murder of a gay Jackson Heights man and its impact on the LGBT movement will be screened this Friday.

The film tells the story of the death of Julio Rivera, a resident who was beaten and killed in 1990 by three men from a skinhead gang for simply being gay.

“Julio of Jackson Heights,” will be played on October 16th at 6:30 pm, at CUNY’s CLAGS: Center for LGBTQ Studies, located at 365 Fifth Avenue, room 7115, in Manhattan.

Richard Shpuntoff, who has been actively involved in LGBT issues and has followed the Rivera case closely, is directing the documentary. He will host a Q&A after the screening.

Rivera, who was a 29-year-old bartender at the time of his death, was walking home on July 2nd, 1990, at 3 a.m. when he was beaten with a hammer and beer bottle—and stabbed–inside the schoolyard at P.S. 69.

Police originally viewed the murder as a “drug deal gone bad,” but ultimately declared the case a hate crime.

Several gay men were murdered in Jackson Heights in the 1970s and ‘80s that were never solved, according to Shpuntoff’s website.

Following Rivera’s murder, the neighborhood rallied against hate crimes and held several vigils in Rivera’s honor.

This is viewed as the incident that led to the launch of the LGBT movement in Jackson Heights, according to Councilman Daniel Dromm.

“Julio’s murder twenty five years ago sparked an outrage and a determination in our community to speak up and send a powerful message against anti-LGBT hate and bias crimes,” Dromm said recently.

A vigil was held in July to remember Rivera, who was killed 25 years ago.

Click for tickets. All tickets are free.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Finding Room to Grow: NYC Apartment Buildings Designed with Families in Mind

Jul. 29, 2025 By Tara Lustberg

Finding family-friendly housing in NYC can be a challenge, especially with the average rent of a two-bedroom apartment in NYC averaging over $5,400 per month, according to apartments.com. According to reports, this is significantly higher (148%) than the national average and has increased by 7% since December 2023. But some properties offer thoughtful amenities for families, making city living seem more manageable.

Cool off this summer with margaritas in Queens

Jul. 25, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The summer season ushers in outdoor adventures, extended daylight hours and sweltering heat, making it the perfect time to kick back at a local restaurant or bar and order a refreshing margarita. Sipping on this tequila-infused cocktail is one of the best ways to beat the heat and revel with margarita connoisseurs in your neighborhood.