Texas resident Matthew Lindner originally entered a guilty plea to charges of making death threats against a Boston physician who treats young people who identify as gender nonconforming.
This alteration in plea occurred during a federal court hearing where Lindner admitted guilt to one count of interstate transmission of threatening communication, as reported by court records and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
Lindner’s threatening conduct is part of a broader trend where LGBTQ doctors and gender clinics have faced violence and harassment. This surge in threats followed a campaign against providing gender-affirming care to transgender and nonbinary youth initiated by right-wing groups.
The disturbing surge of threats and intimidation against medical professionals was brought on, according to Texas federal authorities, by the internet distribution of false information.
The specifics of Lindner’s threat unfolded on August 31, 2022, coinciding with the online spread of misinformation about medical procedures at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Texas Consequences for Lindner’s Actions
Lindner targeted a doctor affiliated with the Boston-based National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, leaving a menacing voicemail stating, “You’re all gonna burn,” and ominously implying imminent harm, according to prosecutors.
The doctor’s previous medical practice and the institution where the doctor was a faculty member were contacted by Lindner after this unsettling call. Deeply troubling, his acts called for severe legal ramifications in Texas.
Lindner is due for sentencing on February 6 and might spend as much as five years in prison. Nonetheless, prosecutors have suggested to the Texas court a term of three months in prison as part of a plea deal.
Expressing condemnation and concern, Joshua Levy, the acting U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, labeled Lindner’s threats as “deplorable” and emphasized the chilling effect on the medical community.
Similarly, Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston division, condemned Lindner’s hateful, repulsive, and threatening behavior, acknowledging the irreparable damage inflicted upon the physician.
This distressing incident emphasizes the importance of safeguarding healthcare professionals dedicated to serving pediatric patients and underscores the urgent need to address threats against those providing essential care to vulnerable communities.
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