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Small town cancels Pride after vandals destroyed their banners twice

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/05/small-town-cancels-pride-after-vandals-destroyed-their-banners-twice/

Daniel Villarreal  (28 May 2026)

The English county of Hertfordshire canceled its June 20 Pride event after vandals tore down its promotional banners twice over.

The Loud & Proud event was scheduled to occur at Shirley's Roadhouse, a live music venue in the village of London Colney, with performances paying tribute to Christina Aguilera, Elton John, and Britney Spears, Attitude magazine reported. Organizers had already sold at least 100 tickets.

However, promotional banners displayed around the county were torn down. When organizers replaced the banners five weeks later, those were torn down as well.

"I thought we were living in 2026 and had moved on from this kind of discrimination and was really hoping we could have a nice family-run event that would celebrate the LGBTQ+ community," Liz Needham, a Liberal Democrat village councilor, told BBC News, adding that the vandalism upset local LGBTQ+ people and allies, especially since banners promoting other non-Pride events had been left untouched.

But the vandalism and hostile comments online compelled organizers to cancel the event out of safety concerns.

"My first responsibility is to ensure the safety of the venue, performers, and attendees," organizers wrote in a cancellation notice, saying that they couldn't afford the "ridiculous costs" to pay for event security.

"We're sorry for those people that can't come," Needham said, but said that the number of supportive messages that the event has gotten online since its cancellation "shows the majority of people are actually supportive of something like that, and it's just a very small minority that want to ruin it."

That is a sad situation.   Very wrong.   Tough to cancel that but safety is very important.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on May 28, 2026, 09:01:12 PMThat is a sad situation.   Very wrong.   Tough to cancel that but safety is very important.

I am hopeful that at least 37 cameras captured clear images of the A-holes, and they get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This is a top-down problem. The world has followed the lead of our so-called president, who sows hate and discord to distract from the corruption and thievery of his administration. He said the things other bigoted leaders were afraid and has thus empowered them to say the quiet parts out loud.

And people we know...people here...still support him. He's not a Christian, either, not the least bit spiritual, let alone pious. It's very disheartening.

Reading this angers and saddens me.  I understand the need for safety.  Public events of any size need security.

However, cancelling the event was short-sighted.  It's exactly what the bigots wanted.  Doing so only emboldens them and makes the problem worse.  When bigots in other towns see that it worked, they will organize and do the same.  The net effect is a silencing of the LGBTQ community.  

Bigotry and hate are best fought with non-violent action.  Pride events are a prime example.  

I wish Hertfordshire had gone ahead with their event.  What about the local police?  It would seem that they should be on hand to provide security at public events. 

Quote from: Liz K on May 29, 2026, 10:42:34 AMReading this angers and saddens me.  I understand the need for safety.  Public events of any size need security.

However, cancelling the event was short-sighted.  It's exactly what the bigots wanted.  Doing so only emboldens them and makes the problem worse.  When bigots in other towns see that it worked, they will organize and do the same.  The net effect is a silencing of the LGBTQ community. 

Bigotry and hate are best fought with non-violent action.  Pride events are a prime example. 

I wish Hertfordshire had gone ahead with their event.  What about the local police?  It would seem that they should be on hand to provide security at public events.

I'll agree to a point and your post was my first thought, too. The bigots won. 

But I don't know the whole situation or the real and perceived risks. Some people are able to stand up to bullies. Some win and somone get hurt. When my kids were little I was less willing to take risks. Now I am.