“The AZC in Hoogeveen is quite a special place,” says Sandro. “Relatively many people from the LGBTI community live in the city of Drenthe. The activities are also adjusted accordingly. For example, the New Year was celebrated at the New Queer Party, where William gave a performance. And that was dazzling, very impressive.”
House in Zaandam
William had just become a status holder, but his official address was still the AZC in Hoogeveen. In practice, this happens more often: people with a status are in a transition phase for a while. “These people are often already working and are very active, but do not yet have their own home and therefore still live in the AZC. This was also the case with William, but he was busy getting out.”
In addition to his job as an entertainer, the 35-year-old drag queen also worked in a hotel, Sandro says. “That’s why he stayed in Zaandam. The distance between Amsterdam and the AZC in Hoogeveen was simply too great.”
Commemoration and collection
A relative of William will be coming over next week. In the run-up to this, a commemoration is being organized by the AZC in Hoogeveen. In addition, there is an online collection to have William’s body flown to his native Venezuela. More than 8,000 euros was raised for this on Friday afternoon.
The police announced yesterday afternoon that William was killed, probably between Friday night and Sunday night. They are desperately looking for witnesses who can tell more about what happened on the Hogendijk in Zaandam.