How Luigi Mangione Became a ‘Gay Icon’ Online [Video]

Photos and videos of Luigi Mangione have drawn widespread attention on social media, and notably within the LGTBQ+ community, with many users and commenters openly thirsting after the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione allegedly shot and killed Thompson on December 4 as he left his hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The suspect was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a tip from an employee on Monday, and was quickly charged with second-degree murder and three additional gun charges and forgery in New York.

While many were aghast and horrified at the brazen shooting on the streets of New York City, many others have come to view Mangione as a sort of folk hero—expressing their outrage and frustration with the nation’s private health insurance industry. Many also said they did not condone or approve of Mangione’s actions but also struggled to feel empathy for the top executive of a health insurance company.

Due to …