= LNews =: Pride Flag Set Ablaze in Bloomington

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

(Link) "But honestly, aside from that...we're really fag-friendly! Come to Beautiful Bloomington, and bring those tourist dollars with you!"

LNewsEditor said...: JIC Post:
From Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Two teenagers stole and burned a rainbow-colored American flag representing gays and lesbians that was displayed outside a store, police said.

The 17-year-old boys took the flag from outside of David Wade's culinary supply store, called Inner Chef, according to Bloomington police. Wade said the flag, called the "New Glory," shows that all Americans are welcome at his business.

A witness saw the boys take the flag and took a picture of their license plate with a cell phone camera. Police later tracked the plate and questioned the boys, who said they burned the flag because they felt it was "unpatriotic," police reports said.

The boys were referred to juvenile court on preliminary charges of theft.

"I just wish they would've come in and talked to me about it," Wade said. "I didn't know if it was a prank, an American flag issue or a gay issue. Any of them could've just come inside and had a conversation about it."

Bloomington's Safe and Civil City Director Beverly Calender-Anderson said if there is a suspicion that the flag burning was a hate crime, the incident would get reported to the Human Rights Commission.

"We do value and honor the diversity in our city and do not condone discrimination or any kind of acts against people because of their sexual orientation, gender, race, class or anything else," she said.

Wade said he would replace the flag.; 10/12/2005 10:23 AM

= LNews =