About 300 people turned out in D.C.’s Logan Circle on Thursday night for a candlelight gathering of remembrance for gay longtime District residents Jocko Fajardo and Tarik Pierce, who were widely admired for their support of LGBTQ community causes.
The two men earlier this month died unexpectedly within eight days of each other, both at the age of 45, prompting their wide circle of friends to reach out to each other for support and to reflect on the two men’s lives.
Fajardo, a skilled chef, florist, event planner and dedicated supporter of community organizations and charities, died at his Dupont Circle residence on Friday, July 14, of unknown causes.
Pierce served for the past 13 years as a manager at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was a beloved figure in D.C.