News and Events => People news => Topic started by: Jessica_Rose on May 28, 2026, 06:42:35 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Small town cancels Pride after vandals destroyed their banners twice
Post by: Jessica_Rose on May 28, 2026, 06:42:35 PM
Post by: Jessica_Rose on May 28, 2026, 06:42:35 PM
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."
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."
Title: Re: Small town cancels Pride after vandals destroyed their banners twice
Post by: ChrissyRyan on May 28, 2026, 09:01:12 PM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on May 28, 2026, 09:01:12 PM
That is a sad situation. Very wrong. Tough to cancel that but safety is very important.
Title: Re: Small town cancels Pride after vandals destroyed their banners twice
Post by: Lori Dee on May 28, 2026, 10:10:11 PM
Post by: Lori Dee on May 28, 2026, 10:10:11 PM
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 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.
Title: Re: Small town cancels Pride after vandals destroyed their banners twice
Post by: Courtney G on May 29, 2026, 08:25:57 AM
Post by: Courtney G on May 29, 2026, 08:25:57 AM
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...sill support him. He's not a Christian, either, not the least bit spiritual, let alone pious. It's very disheartening.
And people we know...people here...sill support him. He's not a Christian, either, not the least bit spiritual, let alone pious. It's very disheartening.