UMVA has learned that a shocking act of vandalism has left residents in Rushden, Northamptonshire, reeling after a Pride banner was brutally burnt by homophobes just days after it was put up.
The banner, which was created for a three-day Pride event, was left with gaping, black holes scorched through, leaving the community 'devastated'. The event's organisers had invested around £160 in the banner, which was erected on local railings just last Wednesday and lasted only four days.
This is not the first time the group has faced such a challenge; their original banner suddenly disappeared after being placed outside a local supermarket. Sapphire Matthewman, one of the organisers of Rushden Pride, expressed her distress upon discovering the latest banner had been set alight, saying it feels like the perpetrators are not just targeting them, but also their partner charities.
Rushden Pride will still go ahead, but with increased security measures in place, including police patrols and tighter controls on who can enter the event. The community is rallying together, refusing to let the act of vandalism dampen their spirits.
Traya Buns, a drag queen who funded the now-burnt banner, described the incident as a 'kick in the guts' as homophobia rises in the area. They revealed they have suffered a growing number of homophobic assaults in public, including being called derogatory names and spending hours deleting social media accounts.
The local police are investigating the incident as both criminal damage and a suspected hate crime. They are engaging with the organisers of Rushden Pride and the local LGBT+ community, offering support and reassurance to those affected.
