This week read about the family of De’Angelo Wallace claiming his murder was a hate crime in Missouri, and a judge blocking the anti-trans restroom sign bill in Tennessee.

Gay Man Murdered; Family Alleges Hate Crime

The family of a man who was fatally shot near the Kansas City police headquarters held a press conference last week to announce that they feared he was the victim of an anti-gay hate crime.

Shauntice Wallace, sister of 28-year-old De’Angelo Wallace, told FOX 4 News, “I’ve been on phone calls several times where he’s been threatened here in Kansas City. He’s been told that if they see him downtown, he’ll be killed.”

Kansas City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina told the Kansas City Star, “There is absolutely no indication whatsoever this was related to a hate crime.”

One suspect was taken into custody, but was released shortly after. LGBTQ Commission Vice-Chair Justice Horn told FOX 4 News, “Them making this gut reaction and saying this case is said and done — if the family here is saying it’s a hate crime, if the action leading up to it is a hate crime, there just needs to be a better set of eyes.”

Charges have not been announced relating to Wallace’s death.

Judge Blocks Anti-Trans Restroom Sign Bill

Sanctuary Café and Performing Arts, owned by Kye Sayers. Photo via Facebook.

A federal judge has granted a motion for a preliminary injunction against HB1182, a Tennessee law that would require businesses to post warning signs saying they allow members “of either biological sex” to use restroom facilities.

Business owners Kye Sayers and Bob Bernstein filed the lawsuit on the grounds that being forced to post the signs constitutes a First Amendment violation that would cause immediate, irreparable harm to their businesses by offending customers and driving away transgender employees and community members.

Judge Aleta Trauger wrote, “The plaintiffs have presented evidence that they have strived to be welcoming spaces for communities that include transgender individuals and that the signage required by the Act would disrupt the welcoming environments that they wish to provide. That harm would be real, and it is not a harm that could simply be remedied by some award at the end of litigation.”

The law was slated to go into effect July 1, but enforcement is blocked while the lawsuit launched by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee continues.