Local
Police log: July 20
Investigations by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit participated in the following investigations:
- On July 9, in the 1900 block of Q Street, N.W., two men were having a conversation about another person finding one of the men attractive. The suspect became upset and struck the victim on the left side of his face and pushed him twice against a tree, causing bruising to the left side of his face and abrasions to the right side of his back and right arm. The suspect fled the scene westbound on Q Street, N.W. The two are in a domestic relationship. The suspect was arrested.
- On July 7, in the 2900 block of P Street, S.E., a woman was involved in a verbal altercation with her girlfriend. The suspect then assaulted the victim. The case was closed with arrest.
- On July 7, in the 1400 block of Channing Street, N.E., members of the 5th district requested GLLU for notification for a pending investigation that involves an alleged bias element.
- On July 7, in the 3100 block of 14th Street, N.W., a man was working the front desk at the listed location. The suspect tried to take a basketball and the victim told him he had to sign it out first. The suspect threatened the victim with bodily harm and used homophobic and racist language toward him then reached over the desk and slapped his hand. The case remains open.
- On July 7, in the 3500 block of 18th Street, S.E., a woman reported that she broke up a fight between two neighbors. The woman then reported that a suspect turned on her and began fighting her. She then retreated to her apartment at which time the attacker kicked at her door, yelled at her to come back outside, and threw a chair and broke her kitchen window. The suspect was placed under arrest for destruction of property.
- On July 8, in the 200 block of 14th Street, S.E., a man reported that unknown suspect(s) spraypainted homophobic slurs on his vehicle and his front right passenger tire had been slashed as well. The case remains open.
- On July 8, in the Unit block of Chesapeake Street, S.W., a complainant reported that a suspect pushed out the window A/C unit to enter the victim’s apartment and struck the victim with a stick. The suspect fled the scene. The two have a prior domestic relationship. The case remains open.
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
The Comings & Goings column also invites LGBTQ college students to share their successes with us. If you have been elected to a student government position, gotten an exciting internship, or are graduating and beginning your career with a great job, let us know so we can share your success.
Congratulations to Yadiel Meléndez, on their new role as Community Associate, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Meléndez is piloting a new role as a Community Associate at the Wanda Alston Foundation, where they support queer and trans young people in finding their footing, building independence, and experiencing a housing community where they are seen, valued, and affirmed. They are coming into this role with more than a decade of experience as a community organizer and operations specialist, supporting diverse communities through service, advocacy, and program coordination.
Previously they worked for Right Proper Brewing Shaw as a server and bartender and at Sephora, Washington, DC, and at FreshFarm, DC, in bilingual food access. They also worked freelance to build foundational structures for local queer BIPOC performance art coalitions, producing variety shows to curate space for marginalized performance artists in the community. They were a production manager for Haus of Hart Productions, a BIPOC centric performance art production. They also worked as field staff with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Stafford, Va.
Meléndez is bilingual, Spanish and English. Their work is guided by a commitment to dignity, safety, and trauma-informed engagement, particularly within LGBTQ and BIPOC communities.
Congratulations also to Ben Rosen LICSW, on his new role as program director, with the Wanda Alston Foundation. Rosen previously worked with Fountain House’s OnRamps program, helping to build a new, innovative outreach program for individuals considered chronically homeless, and living with serious mental illness, in the Times Square area of New York. Rosen is a Psychotherapist, having worked with SG Psychotherapy, and as the psychotherapist with the Nest Community Health Center (URAM).
Rosen has a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre, Minor in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Malloy University Conservatory; and his M.S.W. in Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, from The Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, N.Y. He is independently licensed in New York and Washington, D.C.
Rehoboth Beach
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Attendees encouraged to wear appropriate gear
Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach hosts a monthly leather happy hour. April’s edition is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate gear. The event is billed as an official event of BLUF, the free community group for men interested in leather. After happy hour, the attendees are encouraged to reconvene at Local Bootlegging Company for dinner, which allows cigar smoking. There’s no cover charge for either event.
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
Comings & Goings
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Calendar: April 10-16
BLUF leather social set for April 10 in Rehoboth
Cuba under pressure and without answers
Tenn. lawmakers pass transgender “watch list” bill
Vance speaks at Orbán rally in Hungary
Amendments to India’s transgender rights law criticized
