Video shows damage to iconic ‘Transgender House’ after murder suspect barricaded himself inside
“The Transgender House” in Topeka, Kansas has reportedly sustained serious damage after a homicide suspect barricaded himself inside (Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons)
"The Transgender House" in Topeka, Kansas has reportedly sustained serious damage after a homicide suspect barricaded himself inside (Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons)
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. 🏳️🌈⚧ #EqualityHouse #TransHouse #TopekaPride #PlantingPeace #wlw ♬ original sound – 🦋✨Priscillaahh✨🦋
Kellie Slaughter reportedly died on 24 July, shortly after filing for divorce from her husband. Both Kellie and Carlos had previously filed protective orders against each other, each alleging threats of violence from the other. Oklahoma City police confirmed that her death had been declared a homicide.
The famed Transgender House is also known as Mott House in honour of late Kansan trans activist Stephanie Mott, and is described as “a symbol of visibility, love and support for the transgender community”.
The Planting Peace organisation bought the house in 2016 with the help of Avery Jackson, who was eight years old at the time. She started a crowdfunding campaign, which raised the $70,000 needed to buy the property beside the rainbow-coloured Equality House.
“I loved the rainbow [Equality] House when it was painted like the transgender flag,” Jackson said at the time. “I felt so happy and proud to be transgender.”
She added: “I wish people weren’t afraid of transgender people. I’m not a monster. I’m not scary. I just want to be treated like every other human.”
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