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NCAVP mourns the death of Melvin “Lee” Mecker, a 58-year old-white cisgender gay man in Kansas City, MO, who passed on April 10, 2019 due to an explosive fire in his home. Mecker was the owner of Buddies, a beloved local bar in Kansas City. Mourning friends commented, “If you needed a hand out and he could do it, he would do it for you. He was a really great guy,” and “Lee is the type of person who didn’t turn his back on folks. He sees the good in everybody and he tried. ”
According to local media, Mecker reported experiences of intimate partner violence to the police on more than one occasion. After months of investigation, police ruled Mecker’s death a homicide, with no current suspects.
We know it can be hard to read these reports of violence against our communities. If you need support in these difficult times, you can always reach out to your local NCAVP member. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, you can reach our free bilingual national hotline at 212-714-1141 or report online for support.
NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations who create systemic and social change. NCAVP is a program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.