After spending an evening out with friends at a local gay bar, 22-year-old Sebastian Thomas Robles Lascarro was leaving a McDonald’s in Washington D.C. when he was confronted by a woman. She accused him of not saying "excuse me" as he moved past the line to exit the crowded restaurant. During this confrontation, the Colombian model was also called a homophobic slur.
It quickly became clear that the woman’s intentions were hostile. As Lascarro attempted to ignore her, other individuals joined her, blocking the McDonald’s exit. One person reportedly said, “I’ll teach you how to apologize, f***got.” Then, a group of around ten to fifteen men and women attacked him.
The young man was beaten, kicked, and pelted with drinks and trash. While sitting bleeding on the sidewalk outside, he called emergency services and FaceTimed his husband, even as people continued to throw garbage at him.
Lascarro was subsequently taken to the hospital, his face covered in scratches and bruises. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. Lascarro’s partner has since raised $9,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, as Lascarro is currently unable to work as a model and is experiencing significant psychological distress from the attack.
In response, LGBT+ activists created a chalk protest on the sidewalk outside the McDonald’s to speak out against anti-LGBT+ violence in the capital. Washington is set to host WorldPride in 2025.
