afterwards flag of pride Others were damaged and other parts of his business ransacked, with a Tilsenburg, Ont., business owner saying it was only encouraging his community to be more vocal against hate.
“They are not harming anyone’s life, like most their own. If anything, colleagues will become more vocal because of them,” said Kelly Spencer, owner of Indigo Lounge and Wellness Center.
On Monday, June 27, just after 6:30 p.m., she got a call from someone who said two men were burning pride flags outside her business.
When she arrived, Spencer found flags lit, a car in the parking lot with broken glass, and a cut-up sign that read “Hate has no home here,” a threatening with note.
Threatened letters and damaged Pride flags outside Tilsenburg business, owner ‘heartbroken’
“We warned you b-h-nc,” the note read.
“I think it’s some small people, very loud, a small group of hateful people, because love has grown a hundredfold. I already have more flags — I have even more backup,” she Told.
Spencer said that the stuff that was broken could be replaced, but the incident left him and some employees with “a bit of fear” about the way they are working, given that the incident took place in broad daylight.
The act of vandalism came less than two weeks after he also destroyed the last Pride flag hanging outside his store, and a similar threatening note was left.
Pride flags were lit outside the Indigo Lounge and Wellness Center on June 27, 2022.
Supplied by Kelly Spencer
Broken car windows outside the Indigo Lounge and Wellness Center on June 27, 2022.
Supplied by Kelly Spencer
On Tuesday, June 14, Spencer arrived at work to see her Pride flag with the message chopped off, burnt, and the message left behind.
Enclosed in a plastic bag, the letter was addressed to: “F—-t pro / or f—-t.”
According to Spencer, the letter said, “If you continue to support the f–ts, this flag will be a metaphor for what your home will be.”
Oxford OPP could not yet say whether they believed the same people were involved in both incidents, but they did confirm that the investigation in both cases is open and ongoing.
The Oxford County Crime Unit is also helping with the investigation.
Spencer said the person who saw it said the suspects wore black from head to toe and appeared to be teenagers.
When asked how she felt about the situation, she expressed sympathy for those involved.
“I’m at a point right now where I feel so sad to be filled with so much hate at such a young age. Someone has given that message to them. Hate is taught, or they’ve had such experiences in their lives.” who have bothered him too much to hate,” Spencer said.
This is the latest in several vandalisms targeting the Pride Flags and the LGBTQ2 community in Norwich Township.
Spencer said he and some other business owners are trying to figure out next steps to address the underlying issue of vandalism and hate.
“There’s been a lot of conversation about how unacceptable this is and challenging many people’s own blind spots, about where it might be.”
– With files from Global News ‘Amy Simon’
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.