Local LGBTQ+ community deals with vandalism amid Pride Month
'Hillcrest is under attack and the LGBTQ+ community is under attack,' said Benjamin Nicholls, the executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association.
That is the mutual feeling, according to activists and residence in the Hillcrest area.
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And across town in Allied Gardens at the Accession Lutheran Church, they too have had their Pride flags torn off their walls on several occasions.
'During Pride Month, it's really sad to hear that people are taking actions against our community,' said Gus Hernandez, an LGBT Community Center director. 'Taking down symbols from our community, in this case a Pride flag.'
The Lutheran Church had put the Pride flags back up two times before, but Wednesday night the wall was bare.
'Lately there is a lot of anxiety and the temperature of the community is on high alert,' said Hernandez. 'Folks are used to these sorts of attacks on our rights.'
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This latest vandalism comes on the heels of two other convictions of vandals targeting the Hillcrest community, who will be forced to pay for the damage they caused they painted with swastikas.
'This definitely feels like an important moment in history that we are dealing with,' said Hernandez.
'The way that Hillcrest responds to that is by showing up,' Nicholls added.
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