Queens Honors LGBT Icon Ms. Colombia
Hundreds of Queens residents gathered in Jackson Heights on Friday to mark the life of Ms. Colombia, aka La Paisa, aka Osvaldo Gomez.
Gomez, 64, was found dead in the waters off Jacob Riis Park last Wednesday. She was a beloved member of the LGBTQ community, at once on the margins of the culture and at the very heart of it. You could find her twirling about in her dresses any time a parade was happening, her parrot clutching the top of her head.
"He actually called my brother his friend and that changed his life," said David Gonzalez, who spoke through tears about his brother Peter, who is autistic and has been missing for the last few days.
"Their interaction was the purest thing I’ve ever seen. It was like two rainbows colliding. To somebody who’s autistic that makes all the difference. La Paisa knew that power. She knew her power."
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