The overdose death of a Black gay prostitute in late July is sending shockwaves through the elite group of wealthy donors who backed the Democratic party and Hillary Clinton. Gemmel Moore, 26, was found dead at the home of political activist and high profile DNC donor Ed Buck in West Hollywood, California on July 27, 2017. The LA Coroner’s Office has stated that Moore died of an accidental methamphetamine overdose, but Moore’s family members are not convinced it was an accident.
According to the media outlet WeHo Times, Moore’s family stated that Buck had twisted sexual fantasies involving Black men doing drugs. LaTisha Nixon, Moore’s mother, said that she knew her son was doing sex work and traveled by plane from Texas to visit Buck in California on a regular basis. According to Nixon, “I called one of my son’s friends and was like, ‘Who the hell is Edward Buck?’ And my son’s friend was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s that white guy, that wealthy white politician guy ….’ He was like, ‘Oh my God.’ When he calmed down, he told me that Ed Buck was one of my son’s clients and that Ed Buck was one of his clients as well. Buck would have my son to go out to … Santa Monica Boulevard looking for young gay Black guys so he could inject them with drugs, see their reaction and how [they] would react and take pictures of them.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has stated that when Moore’s body was found there were no drugs or drug paraphernalia at Buck’s residence. The powerful Democratic party donor is not under investigation at this time.
Nixon also told of another encounter with her son and Buck that occurred last year that caused concern. She stated that “He called me crying. Three minutes on the phone hollering and I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ He said, ‘This man, he shot me up with something I don’t even know what it is.’ And I’m like, my son is having a breakdown or episode. But he sent me pictures of his arm, his arm was red.”
According to WeHo Times, no police report has been found yet over the alleged incident. Another sex worker stated that an unidentified sex worker told the outlet also that he was approached by Buck and was asked if he was into “slamming,” a term used for injecting meth. The source stated, “I told him, no, and that would take more money.” The source said Buck’s reaction as “excited,” and added he seemed to “get off on getting you higher and higher.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe account to cover funeral expenses for Moore that has raised $3,465 of a $5K goal.
