In the early hours of Black Pride weekend in Washington, D.C., someone shattered the front door of Sinners and Saints, cut the power, stole bottles of alcohol, and spray-painted the slur “fa***t” on the wall.

The bar’s mission is in its name: defiance and sanctuary. It’s D.C.’s only venue created by and for queer and trans people of color. And on Friday, as revelers began arriving in the city for WorldPride, someone tried to send a message of fear. Instead, the response was community and clarity.

“We are heartbroken, but we are not broken,” the bar’s team posted on Instagram. “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 are investigating the attack as a suspected hate crime. According toThe Washington Post, an employee at the restaurant above the bar discovered the damage midday Friday and called Blair Nixon, who co-owns and manages the space. Nixon told the Post he arrived to find shattered glass, the power cut, and the back door ajar.

“It’s really disheartening,” Nixon told the Post. “If you have somebody who’s in your space who isn’t supposed to be there, it’s scary.”

“This space exists to protect and celebrate Queer and Trans BIPOC communities,” the bar’s Instagram post read, “and this attack only strengthens our resolve. We will NOT be silenced. We will NOT be intimidated. We will NOT back down.”

According to The Post, D.C. police assigned multiple detectives and an LGBTQ+ liaison to the case. The mayor’s office also reached out to discuss protections. But as Nixon told NBC affiliate WRC, “The current political climate is really scary, and that’s one of the reasons why we care so much about the space, and we try and do everything that we can do to make sure it’s a safe space.”

The Advocate contacted Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Just hours after the break-in, Sinners and Saints reopened. The dance floor was packed that night for a planned D.C. Black Pride event. Nixon said that decision wasn’t optional.

“It was really important to us to stay open,” he told The Post. “We don’t ever want to send the message that we can be repressed. We don’t want to be shaken, we don’t want to be down, we want to be sure we stick to our mission.”

That mission, Nixon told WRC, is urgent—and still unmet. “What always happens is that the adoption of LGBT people comes first, and then the adoption of the QT-BIPOC. So talking about trans Black people, persons of color always lags behind.”

The Post reports that the damages are estimated to exceed $5,000. Within 24 hours, a GoFundMe launched by the bar raised nearly $1,500. By Tuesday morning, that total had surpassed $7,600. In the fundraiser, the team wrote: “Every dollar raised will go toward recouping what was taken and repairing our space so we can keep our doors open for those who need it most.” Fifteen percent of donations, they said, would be shared with local QTBIPOC support groups.

The response was swift. Neighbors offered to help with cleaning and repainting. Supportive comments poured in. RuPaul’s Drag Race star Laganja Estranja wrote: “Incredible response! I believe in you. Sending so much love and strength.”

The slur is still on the wall. Nixon told The Post the team may frame it as a permanent reminder of what someone tried—and failed—to do.

“To those who tried to harm us,” the bar wrote online, “hate fuels our defiance. To our community: we see you, we love you, and we will continue fighting for you.”