Police still don’t know if the latest arsonist is connected to the previous incident.Ĭops said they are investigating it as a possible bias crime. This celebration is held at different times throughout the year in across. “It’s concerning and I don’t like it.”Ī 23-year-old resident who lives above the bar added, “It’s scary…I’ve never felt unwelcome as a queer in the neighborhood.” Rainbow Flag, Kiss between Two Men, Kiss between Two Women and other relevant emojis for Pride, the name given to the celebration of self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Neighbors were also stunned by the flag burning.”Where is all the hate coming from?” said Vy Higginsen, a playwright who lives nearby. “I am once again directing the State Police Hate Crimes Unit to assist the NYPD with its investigation and hold those responsible accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. This act of hate is repugnant to our values of equality and inclusion, and we will not stand by and allow these cowardly acts to continue in New York,” he said in a press release. The design involves a labrys, a type of double-headed axe, superimposed on the inverted black triangle, set against a violet background. “I am appalled by the burning of yet another pride flag outside an LGBTQ bar in Harlem. Yes, Martinez told the judge, he was indeed trying to make a statement about gay people when he ripped down AUCC’s rainbow-striped pride flag on June 11 and set it on fire in a nearby strip club. The labrys lesbian flag was created in 1999 by graphic designer Sean Campbell, and published in June 2000 in the Palm Springs edition of the Gay and Lesbian Times Pride issue. Andrew Cuomo demanded the arson be investigated as a hate crime, saying New York has “zero tolerance for this despicable behavior.”
He said the most recently torched flag was given to the bar by an anonymous donor. “It is difficult to think it would happen again so soon, or happen again period.” “We really thought that it was over,” Minko said. I thought it was a joke - it can’t be real,” he said.“I have no words.”Īfter the first incident, he thought the homophobic haters had learned “a lesson” that there’s “no place for hate anywhere, especially in Harlem.” I think, for about 10 seconds, I just stood there petrified and shocked. “Speaking out against this is very important and supporting Molten Java is important.New video released of arsonist setting two gay pride flags ablaze in HarlemĚlexi Minko, the owner of the lounge, said he was “petrified” that it had happened again. “We can’t look away from this,” she added. I don’t know where this came from but I think we need to speak out against it,” she said. Many would say that the White House bathed in the colors of the rainbow flag on June 26, 2015, was nothing more than a sign of celebration, a well-deserved message of congratulations to the LGBT. “There’s so much support here and acceptance.
Hannah Lipman, a 26-year resident in Bethel, said this incident was “horrible,” and “definitely not who this town is.” They cannot extinguish the power, love, and mere existence of our community,” they wrote in the post. “But we can extinguish their flames of vandalism. Tasked by Harvey Milk, a historic figure in the fight for LGBTQ rights, to create a flag for the queer community, Baker created a rainbow flag with eight different colors.
The group called the flag’s burning was deemed “a heinous, hateful act.” Gilbert Pride Flag, the flag that started it all It was created in 1977 by Gilbert Baker, an artist, activist, and openly gay military veteran. ( LifeSiteNews) The Rainbow flag the omnipresent symbol of PRIDE waved throughout June by nearly every major corporation, professional sports league, and. The Bethel CT Pride organization issued a statement on Facebook saying Molten Java Cafe’s flag was a “ beacon of inclusivity and community that flew outside of the space,” making it a safe haven to the LGBTQ+ community before the local group was even formed. The pride flag is a meaningful symbol that defines a community of love and acceptance,” he added.Īllie-Brennan believes people can take incidents like this and make them an opportunity to start conversations about acceptance and kindness. “Being gay, in a small town is not easy and I know that personally. Click here to sign up for our free, seven-day newsletter course on legal cannabis in Connecticut.