Community supports Kaysville neighborhood after Pride flag thefts and vandalism
Jun 3, 2022, 10:27 PM | Updated: Jun 22, 2022, 11:58 am
KAYSVILLE, Utah — Neighbors said someone stole and vandalized several Pride flags just days ahead of a major Pride festival in Utah.
Meg Keate said several neighbors in a roughly two-block area from 200 South to 400 South and 200 West to 400 West noticed that their flags were either missing or had been damaged around midday Wednesday.
“It’s upsetting that people can have so much hate and bigotry in their hearts,” Keate said. “It was really, clearly an intentional act of bigotry and hate.”
Young Matilda Robison said her family’s flag was stolen. It had stood there in support of her aunt.
“If you see the flag, you shouldn’t be scared of it,” the girl said as she stood next to her parents. “You should be proud of who you are!”
Kaysville police confirmed Friday they had received a report about the incidents and officers were investigating.
“I have a gay brother in Utah and we’ve experienced some resistance and prejudice towards him,” Keate said. “I was just stewing in my anger and frustration and realized, you know, I need to channel this to something positive.”
Keate said she put the situation on social media and within a few hours people had donated several hundred dollars. As of Friday, she said she had raised roughly $1,500, which was being put toward new flags as well as gift bags for those in the neighborhood and beyond who identify as LGBTQ.
“I just always want to be a voice of and create a space for people to feel loved and accepted and so to see so many people jumping on that bandwagon — it was really beautiful,” Keate said. “There’s so many more allies out there than I think we realize.”
The Kaysville neighborhood apparently hasn’t been the only one hit for its Pride flags. Project Rainbow posted Thursday about another recent incident.
The 2022 Utah Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Salt Lake City’s Washington Square.
Utah’s Pride Festival is this weekend, here’s what you need to know about traffic
Anybody with information about the Kaysville cases is asked to contact the Kaysville Police Department at 801-546-1131.
