LGBT Inclusive Church Vandalized With Pro-Trump, Pro-Nazi Graffiti, Anti-Gay Slur

‘We’re Proud of Being Targeted for the Reason That We Were Targeted for’ 

A Bean Blossom, Indiana church that prides itself on being inclusive and embracing of LGBT people was attacked this weekend with an anti-gay slur and Donald Trump-supporting Nazi sentiments.

A swastika accompanied spray-painted messages that read, “HEIL TRUMP,” and “F*G CHURCH.”

It’s just one more of the nearly five hundred documented pro-Trump hate crime attacks that have swept the nation after Election Day. 

But in a surprise move, church leaders did not rush to remove the graffiti. In fact, they’re going to leave it up. 

“At first I was a little disheartened,” Rev. Kelsey Hutto told the Washington Post. “Saint David’s has been very active in our community and to find that is hurtful.”

“We’re proud of being targeted for the reason that we were targeted for, at least in which we think we were targeted for, which is being inclusive,” she said.

“We believe that symbols are what you make of them,” Hutto also said. “And if we decide to look at these symbols as hate and be angry and frustrated, we’re focusing on the wrong issue. And so we’ve decided to leave them up as symbols of hope, whereas if anybody in the surrounding area — or even country — sees these and knows that we were targeted because we’re inclusive and they need a safe space, then they know that Saint David’s is a safe space.”

On Facebook the Church writes, “We are disappointed that our safe haven has been vandalized but will not let the actions of a few damper our love of Christ and the world. We will continue to live out our beliefs and acceptance of all people and respecting the dignity of every human being. We pray for the perpetrators as well as those who the derogatory marks were directed at.
We will move forward continuing to be the love of Christ in the world.”

Talking Points Memo notes “Bean Blossom is in Brown County, which the Indiana secretary of state recorded voted nearly two-to-one for Trump, who received 5,015 votes to Hillary Clinton’s 2,518.”

 

Images via Facebook