Graffiti on the exterior of The Bar Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. – Photos: Facebook.
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
A Takoma Park man who allegedly spray-painted the word "groomer" on the front doors of two Maryland libraries last year due to his objections to Pride-themed displays has been charged with possessing child pornography, according to court records.
Charles Sutherland, 31, faces multiple counts of child pornography in Montgomery County, according to online court records.
He also faces hate crime and malicious destruction of property charges in Prince George's County in connection with the vandalism at two libraries last year, as reported by The Washington Post.
Patrick Wojahn, the 47-year-old gay mayor of College Park, Maryland, has been arrested on numerous child pornography charges, according to the Prince George's County Police Department.
Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz and Jessica Garth, the chief of the Special Victims and Family Violence unit of the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office, announced Wojahn's arrest at a news conference on Thursday morning.
According to Aziz, on Feb. 17, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the police department that a social media account on the app Kik, which was operating in the county, possessed and distributed suspected child pornography. Reportedly videos and an image were uploaded to the account in January.
Evan Lambert, a gay reporter from D.C., was arrested in Ohio after police tried to remove him for talking during a news conference held by Gov. Mike DeWine.
A gay television reporter from D.C. was arrested and charged with trespassing for conducting a live broadcast during a news conference being held by Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine about the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals.
Evan Lambert, a correspondent for NewsNation, was reporting on the accident, in which 50 train cars -- 10 of which were carrying hazardous materials -- derailed in a fiery crash last Friday near East Palestine, Ohio.
Residents in the area, and in nearby parts of Pennsylvania, were ordered to evacuate after authorities decided on Monday to release and burn chemicals from five tankers containing vinyl chloride, sending hydrogen chloride and phosgene, a toxic gas, into the air.
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