A man has been arrested for allegedly vandalizing two LGBTQ bars in Lexington, Kentucky, with anti-gay slurs.
William White, 51, has been charged with first- and second-degree criminal mischief for allegedly spray-painting the exteriors of Crossings Lexington, a popular queer dive bar, and The Bar Complex, an LGBTQ nightclub. He faces additional charges for an outstanding warrant related to a separate charge.
Based on photos posted to Facebook by The Bar Complex, the graffiti on and near the windows reads: “Homo, Qeer (sic), Sissy, F**, Punk” and other homophobic slurs, while graffiti on the sidewalk and main door appears to say “Dead” without any other context.
Police say a hate/bias report was taken in each incident “due to the nature of the vandalism,” according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Police were initially dispatched to Crossings Lexington in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 21, in response to a call from a bouncer who reported seeing a man spray-painting the building. White was located and arrested near the scene.
Police later received a second report of vandalism at The Bar Complex, and, following an investigation, determined that White was responsible for the second incident.
The estimated property damage at Crossings Lexington is between $500 and $1,000, and is expected to exceed $1,000 at The Bar Complex, according to the Herald-Leader.
In its Facebook post, The Bar Complex wrote: “This is what HATE looks like. Someone vandalized the front of our building last night. Crossings’ building was also vandalized. Luckily their security and police were able to apprehend and arrest the perpetrator.”
White is currently being held at the Fayette County Detention Center, and is next scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Dec. 28, according to court records.
Crossings Lexington owner Rebecca Richter told CBS affiliate WKYT: “I’m not angry because I’m glad [the vandalism] wasn’t worse, and we’re already fine, but it does suck.”
Richter, who has owned the bar since 2019, says it’s become a safe space for LGBTQ people who can feel free and comfortable enough to be themselves.
“I’m proud and thankful to be able to have the opportunity to try and have a space where people can find a little bit of joy and a little less loneliness,” she said.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton condemned the “threatening and hateful graffiti” at both establishments.
“This City will not tolerate hate-filled acts,” she tweeted. “During this season of love and peace, let’s stand united against ignorance and hate.”
We’ve been made aware of threatening and hateful graffiti at two local LGBTQ-owned businesses. This City will not tolerate hate-filled acts. Our Lexington Police Department is already on the case. During this season of love and peace, let’s stand united against ignorance and hate
Police in West Hollywood are searching for a man who assaulted another while man yelling anti-gay slurs. He is also believed to have assaulted other individuals in the area.
The victim of the anti-gay assault, David Velasquez, told the WeHo Times that, on Sunday, March 17, he was coming back from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he had been treated earlier in the day for severe cold and flu symptoms.
He stopped by the Pavilions in WeHo to pick up medication and was riding his personal scooter home when the altercation occurred.
Velasquez noted that he was riding on the sidewalk to avoid being hit by potentially drunk drivers as he made his way through West Hollywood on a particularly raucous St. Patrick’s Day.
The owner of a popular gay bar in the Russian city of Orenburg was arrested for "extremism" last week, just a few weeks after the club's art director and manager were arrested on similar charges.
Vyacheslav Khasanov, the owner of the LGBTQ nightclub Pose, was detained at the Moscow airport on March 29 and taken into custody, accused of "organizing the work of an extremist cell," according to Mediazona.
The club, which opened in 2021, regularly hosted drag parties. After the adoption of Russia's expanded law barring "LGBT propaganda," it marketed itself as a "bar-theater of parodies" and "a night bar with a show program."
The construction of the highly anticipated LGBTQ nightclub "Town 2.0," which was slated to open in the former St. Phillip's Church building on North Capitol St. NE, has indefinitely stalled, raising questions about whether -- and when -- the promised nightlife venue will ever open.
On April 2, Town 2.0 LLC filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court against Jemal's Sanctuary LLC, an affiliate of Douglas Development Corporation and the owner of the former St. Phillip's Church building. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!