Anti-LGBTQ+ Vandalism and Threats Increase Nation-Wide During June
During this year’s Pride, there’s been a disturbing increase in threats and instances of vandalism targeting LGBTQ+ symbols and spaces. Reports from at least 10 states across the country have been filed since June.
Reports include the tearing down, slashing, and burning of Pride flags, as well as bomb threats aimed at Pride events. These incidents have been reported in New York, Hawaii, Illinois, Idaho, Washington, Montana, and New Jersey, among others.
In Maui, HI, and Boise, ID, there have been multiple reports of Pride flags being torn down or stolen. Flags have also been burned at a church in Chicago, IL and at the Stonewall National Monument in New York, NY. Washington has seen several acts of vandalism, such as a rainbow crosswalk in Spokane being defaced with scooters and paint and Pride decorations being torn down in the town square of Burien.
In Missoula, MT, vandals were caught on camera shredding Pride flags and either stuffing the pieces down their pants or urinating on the remains.
The vandalism of Pride flags is only part of a troubling pattern of growing hostility. Multiple bomb threats have been made against Pride events across the country—including a drag story hour at a library in Seward, AK, and a Pride brunch and market at a brewery in Austin, TX, both of which were canceled.
In contrast, a drag story hour at the New Art Center in Newton, MA chose to proceed despite the threat. Emily O’Neil, executive director of the New Art Center, explained that they had to make a quick decision, as there was barely any time between receiving the threat and when attendees were due to arrive. Facing the first bomb threat in the center’s nearly 50-year history, O’Neil, her staff, and Missy Steak (the drag queen performing) decided to continue with the event.
O’Neil says, “…Putting ourselves forward and having this event and saying no to hatred was the right thing to do.”
Others are also taking a stand against the vandalism. In response to a Pride flag being torn down outside her office, Amanda Gentry (a local attorney in McMinnville, TN) vowed to put up a hundred more and encouraged others who support Pride to do the same. Gentry enthusiastically declares, “Let’s put more flags in that yard than one person can take with one hand or cut.”
Anti-LGBTQ+ threats and vandalism are not new. The community has dealt with these challenges for decades. But given the political climate, these challenges seem elevated from recent years.
It remains crucial to stay steadfast in your pride, to stand against the acts of a small yet loud minority. However, it is equally as important to act with caution and awareness. Tearing down flags is one thing, but bomb threats must always be taken as seriously as possible.
Prioritize the safety of yourself and others. Not every threat will be from a harmless keyboard warrior; if you believe there is credibility to a threat, contact the proper authorities, and consider their advisement on whether or not the event should continue. If it’s necessary to cancel a Pride event, that does not mean that homophobic extremists have won. It means that the LGBTQ+ community values the health and safety of their own above anything else, and that shows strength, not weakness.
Photo courtesy of Pexels, by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft
