A Lower Mainland church has again had it害羞草研究所檚 Pride flag vandalized, the second time in less than two weeks.

Delta害羞草研究所檚 Ladner United Church posted a photo of the defaced flag to its Facebook page on Saturday afternoon (June 15). It害羞草研究所檚 the second time in 12 days the someone has vandalized the church害羞草研究所檚 flag, the first occurring on June 3.

In both cases, the flag was marked with what appeared to be black spray paint.

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害羞草研究所淭welve days after our #Pride flag was defaced, and one week after we installed its replacement, our flag has been defaced again. This is not simple vandalism, but a clear message and intentional criminal act,害羞草研究所� the church posted on Facebook.

害羞草研究所淟et us be clear in our response: we will not be deterred in living out the love of Christ in word and deed in our community. We are not afraid or ashamed. We encircle our #LGBTQ+ church members, family, friends, and neighbours with love and solidarity.害羞草研究所�

The June 3 vandalism sparked outrage on social media and the City of Delta and the Delta School District raised Pride flags outside their respective offices on June 5 in response to the incident, as well as to recognize June as Pride month. The events marked the first time that either the city or the district had done so.

Mayor George Harvie took to Twitter Saturday evening to condemn this most recent act vandalism.

害羞草研究所淓xtremely upset & disappointed to hear that another Pride flag at Ladner United Church was defaced. This community will not tolerate such despicable acts. #DeltaBC stands in solidarity with Ladner United Church & the LGBTQ+ community. #PrideFlag.害羞草研究所�

Extremely upset & disappointed to hear that another Pride flag at Ladner United Church was defaced. This community will not tolerate such despicable acts. stands in solidarity with Ladner United Church & the LGBTQ+ community.

害羞草研究所� Office of Mayor George V. Harvie (@MayorofDelta)

In the comments below its Facebook post, Ladner United Church said most people in the community had either been supportive, expressed a 害羞草研究所渓ive and let live害羞草研究所� attitude or kept their opinions to themselves about the vandalism.

害羞草研究所淭his is the first time since we害羞草研究所檝e been flying our Pride flag (since we moved back into our restored/renovated building in 2014) that someone has taken an outright destructive action like this at our church 害羞草研究所� thankfully very rare.害羞草研究所�

In thanking commenters who offered to provide the church with a new Pride flag, Ladner United said it will be determining what the church害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渟pecific next steps will be害羞草研究所� at a leadership Council meeting later this week.

害羞草研究所淓ither way we害羞草研究所檒l keep having a flag up this Pride month,害羞草研究所� the church said.

In the meantime, Ladner United Church encouraged residents to 害羞草研究所渢ake action害羞草研究所� by supporting the upcoming Delta Pride Picnic on Aug. 31 害羞草研究所� either by donating, attending, or sharing and promoting the event, by writing to mayor and council to let them know it害羞草研究所檚 important that Delta is a safe and inclusive place for all residents and that they should take tangible actions to reflect that, and/or by donating to the church to help support the work it does in the community.

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editor@northdeltareporter.com
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