FBI Investigates Hate Crime Arson At GA Trans Clinic

Decaturish reports:

The Decatur Fire Department confirmed on Jan. 26 that a fire at a gender clinic inside a historic building was intentionally set. As first reported by Decaturish, records show that fire investigators were probing whether an arsonist targeted a gender-affirming medical clinic at the historic Blair Building on Oct. 30, 2023.

The city denied our request for police body camera footage from the incident, citing an ongoing investigation. Decaturish has continued to press the city for the release of this information.

The Blair Building is a pink-painted structure located at 215 Church Street behind Twain’s restaurant. It’s home to several medical providers, including QMed/QueerMed, which specializes in “gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary individuals.”

Atlanta First News reports:

A Decatur Police report indicates QMed was the victim of the Oct. 30 fire, which is being investigated as a first-degree arson, which is a felony. The report contains several images that have been redacted.

QMed owner Dr. Izzy Lowell said the FBI is investigating the fire as a hate crime. Georgia enacted a hate crimes law in 2020, and its protections extend to LGBTQ individuals. People convicted of a hate crime would face stronger penalties under the new law.

Lowell said, “We won’t be intimidated. We will not stop providing life-saving care to our patients.” She said the office is “completely destroyed,” but that QMed is continuing to see patients remotely.

As I reported earlier today, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has demanded that QueerMed surrender its medical records.