Authorities are looking into a threatening, homophobic note that was discovered outside a business in Tillsonburg, Ont., on the same night its Pride flags were vandalized.
On Monday evening, Kelly Spencer shared a photo on social media showing Pride flags displayed outside her establishment, the Indigo Lounge and Wellness Centre.
When she arrived for work on Tuesday morning, she found the flags had been cut, punctured with holes, and faded.
Even more alarming than the damage to the flags was a letter left behind. It was sealed in plastic and attached to the fence.
The letter began with: “Faggot supporter and/or faggot.”
It continued: “If you continue to support faggots, this flag will be an allegory of what your house will end up to be.”
The note was signed “sincerely” with an unreadable initial.
“It was awful, straight up awful,” said Spencer about finding the message on the fence outside her business the next day. “This was a well thought-out hate crime.”
Spencer reported the incident to the Oxford County Ontario Provincial Police who are currently investigating but did not provide any details when contacted by on Tuesday.
Spencer describes her business as a safe haven for members of the LGBTQ community. She noted that she displayed Pride flags last year without any issues.
“The flags can be replaced and they will be, but we have staff here and customers here who are part of that community and who saw the flags and it’s horrifying,” said Spencer.
This incident occurs during what seems like a series of events involving removing or damaging Pride flags in rural areas of southwestern Ontario.
A person has been charged after Pride flags were taken down in Norwich township, just 20 kilometers from Tillsonburg.
Residents in Minto, Ont., located in Wellington County are rallying around their local LGBTQ community following acts of vandalism where Pride decorations were slashed and destroyed in incidents labeled as hate-motivated crimes by police.
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This is the outside of a letter that was posted near the flags. (Kelly Spencer/Facebook)
“I’m not sure why there’s such a huge voice for hate right now,” said Spencer. “I had these flags up last year and never received anything about it.”
Spencer mentioned that police recommended installing surveillance cameras to help deter future incidents.
Spencer is active with local commerce groups including BIA and has been discussing this issue with them – along with Mayor Stephen Molnar.
“It is my goal to not allow any more hate with this but to find some way to inspire change,” she stated. “Everybody has been more than supportive.”
She plans to organize a meeting with community leaders to tackle this problem.
“If we’re not calling this out and speaking up against it.. then we are silently allowing it,” she explained. “These are scary for people and we need to stand up for humanity and for love.”
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