Homophobes Set Fire To Rainbow Pride Arch In “Deliberate” Act Of Hate

A rainbow arch celebrating Milton Keynes’ LGBTQ+ community was burned down in what Pride organizers believe was a “deliberate” act.

The rainbow arch, donated by the business improvement district, My Milton Keynes, was put up as part of the Milton Keynes Pride festival on Saturday, 11 September.

On Monday, 13 September, the rainbow arch was found incinerated.

Organizers wrote on Instagram: “MKPF team are extremely saddened to discover that a person or persons have deliberately broken into the Pride site and set fire to the beautiful rainbow arch… The arch had been fenced and secured which means that the incident was undertaken on purpose.”

“Sadly this incident shows that there is still so much work to be done within MK in regards to the homophobia, lesphobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination the LGBT+ community face,” they added.

My Milton Keynes also shared the heartbreaking photo on social media, and wrote: “We are shocked and saddened to see that our beautiful rainbow flower arch has been destroyed by vandals… We will not let people like this hurt us and will ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE.”

According to Yahoo! News, the LGBTQ+ community in Milton Keynes and beyond took to social media to solidarity with the Pride organizers.

Ben Everitt, the Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North, wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely awful to see this after such a wonderful, positive event full of community and togetherness.”

Owen Hurcum, the non-binary mayor of Bangor, Wales, added: “This hurts, this is an attack against our community and it hurts.

“Yet we will fight for our rights and acceptance without compromise. They can burn our symbols and target our events but they will lose. Love will win. Always. Sending the love MK.”

Thames Valley Police confirmed to MKCitizen that the force was investigating the fire which destroyed the floral rainbow arch.

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