Pride flags in Rushden, Northamptonshire, have been set on fire and torn down, but the local LGBT+ group remains defiant and will proceed with their three-day Pride event with enhanced security measures.
Banner Burned Days After Installation
A Pride banner, created for the upcoming Rushden Pride event, was found with large black scorch marks just four days after being placed on railings last Wednesday. The damage appeared on Saturday, June 6. This is not the first act of vandalism against the group; a previous banner placed outside Asda on Washbrook Road vanished without a trace.
Organisers Devastated
Sapphire Matthewman, one of the organisers of Rushden Pride, expressed devastation upon discovering the £160 banner had been deliberately set alight. She told Metro: “It’s not surprising, when we announced the event with one of the banners there were loads of comments saying ‘burn it’. I can’t talk about it without crying. Because it’s not just taking from us; we have partnered with two charities, Serve and Stonewall. It feels like they are taking from them.”
Increased Security for the Event
Despite the incident, Rushden Pride will go ahead as planned. Sapphire confirmed that police will patrol the event and security will be tightened on entry. Traya Buns, a drag queen who personally paid £160 for the now-burned banner, described the act as a “kick in the guts” and evidence of rising homophobia in the area. Traya said: “Something inside me told me this banner, like the last one, won’t last.” They also reported an increase in homophobic assaults in public, including being called a “tranny” and spending hours deleting social media accounts.
Police Investigation
Thames Valley Police stated: “The incident happened between 9pm on Friday, June 5, and midday on Saturday, June 6, and the local Neighbourhood Policing Team are investigating it, not only as one of criminal damage, but also as a suspected hate crime. In addition, the team are also investigating the theft of a previous banner. We are engaging with the organisers of Rushden Pride and the local LGBT+ community relating to this incident and forthcoming Pride events. Anyone with any concerns is welcome to contact us.”
The community remains resilient, with organisers urging support and attendance at the event to stand against hate.
