The community in Logan is rallying extra support for the Logan Pride Center, located right beside St. John’s Episcopal Church, after vandals were caught on security footage defacing pride flags set out during Logan Pride Week. The flags were defaced on numerous occasions last year; this year the center took action to install a security camera to attempt to catch the culprits in the act. Two suspects were caught on film; one was later identified as local youth.

The Rev. Jason Samuel, vicar of St. John’s, believes though childhood mischief, tomfoolery, “getting away with it” are potentially to blame, it’s likely no surprise that the center was the target in the heated atmosphere before the divisive presidential election.

“In this season of political extremes and divides, people are feeling emboldened to do these things because it’s being said publicly,” he says.

But he and his church community don’t want punishment for the vandals, but education on how and why LGTBQ+ minorities are targets of hate crimes. “He may not know he’s chosen to do this with is a minority and a persecuted group. This has been repetitively done in the same place,” Samuel says. “It’s a lingering from the past, the mischief of young people, and this is being inspired by the older generation that it’s okay to spout or show hate to those people. “

The Rev. Samuel says that he and the staff of St. John’s are, in a way, grateful, as the event has demonstrated to the local LGBTQ+ community how much vocal support there really is in Logan area. It’s also caused those who would never ask questions to become connected with valuable resources.

“None of us want to deal with this, but it’s opened doors for more education. More people coming to Pride, asking ‘tell us more about what you do?’ They’re learning about resources for families, seniors, and others that the Pride Center does free of charge.”