On October 20, Hillcrest LGBTQ+ bar, Gossip Grill, located in San Diego, was damaged in a fire during the early hours of the morning. The establishment, which suffered damages to its open-air seating area and awning, continued operation during regular business hours the same day. The details of the incident come from a report by NBC San Diego.
Subsequent investigation unveiled that the fire resulted from an act of arson. The perpetrator, 38-year-old Ryan Habrel, was consequently detained. Despite the initial concerns, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and the Metro Arson Strike Team found no evidence to suggest that the whole ordeal was a hate crime-related incident, according to the team's report to NBC San Diego and KPBS.
Discussing the incident with KPBS, Gossip Grill co-owner Moe Girton doesn't believe that the fire came about as a result of a hate crime, rather attributing it to an individual grappling with a mental health crisis.
Detailed in a Gossip Grill Instagram post, which featured security camera footage, shows the suspect using an accelerant to thereafter causing the fire at roughly 12:30 a.m. on a Friday. It was the suspect's use of accelerant that prompted the investigating authorities to charge him with arson.
Gossip Grill stands as one of just around 21 women-focused LGBTQ+ bars across the U.S., serving as a much-needed safe space for the queer women's community of San Diego, according to NBC San Diego.
Reflecting on the entire situation, Girton told KPBS, "We're extremely grateful for the fire department's rapid response... The damage is manageable. Everything should be sorted out in a couple of weeks”. She further asserted that Gossip Grill is determined to remain a welcoming space, and continues to display strength and resilience in these disturbed times."
