With just days left in Pride month, there’s been another incident of vandalism targeting the LGBTQ2 community in British Columbia.
The latest incident took place overnight in Saanich, where someone used black paint to block out a rainbow crosswalk outside the G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre.
The crosswalk was only installed two weeks ago, one of four painted in Saanich as a part of the community’s Pride events.
Earlier this month, someone smashed a window and lit a fire inside a Hope social services agency in an attempt to burn a Pride flag, while a Pride crosswalk in that city was defaced with homophobic slurs the same night. Fortunately the non-profit escaped largely with smoke and water damage.
And at the end of May, someone splashed black paint in an attempt to cover Pride flags at a United Church in Ladner. It was the fourth time in recent years the church has been targeted for flying Pride flags.
The incidents come amid a surge in anti-LGBTQ2 hate crimes and threats across the country, particularly targeting drag queens and transgender people.
Saanich police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Saanich police at 250-475-4321.