DC Queer Bar Hit By Hate Attack Just Before Black Pride
Washington D.C.’s Black Pride weekend was marred before it even began when a queer bar catering to people of colour was targeted in a shocking break in. Sinners And Saints, a known safe space in the Adams Morgan neighbourhood, suffered vandalism and theft last Thursday.
Targeted Attack Rocks Queer Venue
The intruders didn’t just smash the glass front door to get inside. They left a clear message of hate, spray-painting the word faggott on a wall near the entrance. Blair Nixon, a co-partner of the bar, shared the impact with the Washington Blade, stating, “It was really scary. To know that somebody was in our space, vandalising it — it was very scary and honestly, devastating.”
Beyond the hateful graffiti, a significant amount of the bar’s liquor stock was stolen. However, Nixon emphasised the graver concern was the slur. “It does seem like it was targeted because of what they wrote on the wall,” he added.
The perpetrators also cut power to the entire building, affecting other businesses and apartments, after breaking into the breaker box.
Police are treating the incident at the 18th St NW establishment as a second-degree burglary, acknowledging the graffiti showed “a hate bias or motivation” against the sexual minorities who own and visit the bar. Nixon praised the police response, noting, “They actually sent, like, the entire department.” This included multiple officers, detectives, and the LGBTQIA+ liaison officer.
Standing Strong Doors Open
Despite the violation, Sinners And Saints refused to be cowed. Astonishingly, the venue was open just hours later, welcoming patrons to their scheduled Sapphic Sailor Moon party. This resilience underscores the spirit of a community that so often faces adversity.
The bar’s owners released a powerful statement, declaring: “This space exists to protect and celebrate Queer and Trans BIPOC communities, and this attack only strengthens our resolve. We will NOT be silenced. We will NOT be intimidated. We will NOT back down.”
They continued with a direct message: “To those who tried to harm us: hate fuels our defiance. To our community: we see you, we love you, and we will continue fighting for you.”
Spaces like Sinners And Saints are more than just bars; they are sanctuaries. The team at Sinners And Saints affirmed this, concluding, “Sinners And Saints is resistance. We will rebuild. We will STAY OPEN. And we will keep our doors—and hearts—wide open for all who need refuge.”
Police investigations are ongoing, with some camera footage from a neighbouring hostel submitted.
