Destiny Church’s Homophobic Evangelical Followers Charged With Defacing Rainbow Crossing
On March 25, a group of individuals vandalised a rainbow crossing in Gisborne, New Zealand using white paint. Following the investigation, three individuals have been charged by police for the defacement and have been identified as being Fundamentalist Christians.
The most literal example of white-washing
The perpetrators are reportedly supporters of the evangelical Destiny Church and have been identified as two men aged 36 and 46, along with a 45-year-old woman. They allegedly used white paint to cover the rainbow colours of the crossing in the CBD of Gisborne.
Inspector Danny Kirk stated that detectives are actively seeking a fourth suspect and have called the incident a potential hate crime.
While acknowledging the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and the right to protest, Inspector Kirk stressed that the vandalism had crossed a line, and police intend to seek reparation costs from the offenders. “This act of vandalism has deeply concerned our diverse community, and such behaviour is unacceptable,” Inspector Kirk says in a statement.
This incident follows another act of vandalism on a rainbow crossing in Auckland’s Karangahape Road, the heart of New Zealand’s gay nightlife district. The defacement occurred amid ongoing tensions fuelled by opposition to the country’s Rainbow Storytime events, which have faced protests and cancellations due to security concerns.
In response to the incident, Gisborne’s Mayor Rehette Stoltz condemned the acts as divisive and hateful, affirming solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.
