Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening LGBTQ+ Physician in Boston

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Matthew Lindner Faces Sentencing for Threats Against Gender-Affirming Care Doctor

Matthew Lindner, a 39-year-old resident of Comfort, Texas, has entered a guilty plea in federal court for one count of interstate transmission of threatening communication. Initially pleading not guilty, Lindner changed his plea during a hearing on Wednesday, as confirmed by court records and a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.

Lindner’s threats were directed at a Boston physician specializing in the treatment of gender-nonconforming youth. The incident occurred on August 31, 2022, amid a surge in online misinformation regarding medical procedures at Boston Children’s Hospital. Lindner, reacting to inaccurate information, left a threatening voicemail at the Boston-based National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, warning the affiliated doctor with statements like “you’re all gonna burn” and indicating that a group of people was on their way.

Following this voicemail, Lindner proceeded to contact the physician’s former medical practice and the university where the doctor served as a faculty member, escalating the situation further.

A Texas man has been arrested and charged with making a death threat against a physician who cares for gender-nonconforming children, federal prosecutors said, as threats against health-care providers who work with LGBTQ youths have risen in recent months.https://t.co/PIyZBexpZx

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 4, 2022

Lindner, scheduled for sentencing on February 6, 2023, faces a potential prison term of up to five years. However, as part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors have recommended a three-month prison sentence.

In response to Lindner’s actions, Joshua Levy, the acting U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, expressed condemnation, stating, “The threat Lindner made is deplorable and sends a chill through the medical community.” He emphasized the dedication of pediatric doctors, including the victim, and condemned Lindner for threatening a physician merely for performing her professional duties.

Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston division, added, “There is no way to undo the damage Matthew Lindner did to this physician with his hateful, repulsive, and threatening behavior.”

This case is part of a disturbing trend, as threats against LGBTQ doctors and gender clinics have increased in recent years. Authorities have also charged another individual, Catherine Leavy of Massachusetts, with calling in a fake bomb threat to Boston Children’s Hospital. Leavy pleaded guilty in September and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19.