Pride Flags Getting Stolen. Here's Everything to Know

Pride Month this year is not the same as it has always been. This year's pride month has been tough. Celebrations of the pride month kicked off with great enthusiasm, but what appeared as a troublesome issue were the instances of anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism. Additionally, there have been strong violence threats reported from many areas of the United States. Here's what we know.

Incidents of vandalism

There have been many cases of anti-LGBTQ+ threats in 10 states of the United States ever since June began. Threats are not minor ones, rather they involve bomb threats as reported by three states. The Seward Community Library & Museum situated in Alaska recently received a bomb threat on June 8 just for the reason that the people there intended a drag story hour event. Moreover, many events like these have been canceled because of the bomb threats received from the organizers in Texas, Newton, Massachusetts, and Austin. There have been many instances of vandalized Pride banners and flags too.

Pride symbols- The biggest target

Pride Symbols seem to be the biggest target of this vandalism. A Pride flag in New York was stolen from a yard. Similarly, a pride flag at the Maui County administrative building was torn down. About 20 rainbow flags were damaged in Boise, Idaho. Additionally, the Pride decorations in the Beverly Unitarian Church, Chicago were burned. Incidents like these have become common in many other places as well, including the Stonewall National Monument, in New York City. The vandalism grew so much that Pride flags have not only been torn by the vandals but also have been urinated upon in Missoula, Montana. Various such instances of vandalism have also been reported in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

The Washington state has been reporting various instances of vandalism. Pride banners in Poulsbo have been slashed by vandals and repaired by caring residents. Teenagers too have been showing their aggression by vandalizing rainbow crosswalks in Spokane. Pride decorations in Burien have been town down in Burien. Vandalism incidents have also been seen at a church, a high school, and many other such places.

An intense year

The year definitely appears to be a tough year. Anti-LGBTQ+ threats are not new, but this year's Pride Month saw a different level of vandalism. The visibility of Pride events that deserve great attention has been diminished by some government officials. However, it is important to note that attacks like these might have seen the opposite effect.