The famed “Transgender House” in Topeka, Kansas has sustained serious damage after a murder suspect barricaded himself inside while being pursued by police.

The house, which is painted in the colours of the trans flag, sits next to the rainbow-coloured Equality House, both of which were set up by non-profit Planting Peace as a “symbol of compassion, peace and positive change”. The houses sit across the street from homophobic extremist group the Westboro Baptist Church, and are widely visited by Kansas’ LGBTQ+ community.

Local media reported that Carlos Slaughter, 51, barricaded himself inside the Transgender House after fleeing from Oklahoma City to Topeka. He was wanted by police for allegedly starting the house fire that killed his wife, Kellie Slaughter, 45.

Officers forcibly entered the house after a five-hour standoff on Wednesday (30 July), causing “extensive” damage to the property, later finding Slaughter dead inside, KSNT reported.

News reports from the scene claimed it wasn’t clear why he chose to hide inside the Transgender House, which sustained multiple broken windows during the incident. A TikTok video shared to the platform shortly after the event shows the damage clearly:

@priscillaaahh Imagine living across from the most hateful church in America and painting your house like THIS. That’s the energy.

Source: News | PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news