June is Pride Month. But this year’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community has been marred by what can only be described as anti-gay attacks. From the banning of gay pride flags in certain classrooms to the burning of them in Baltimore streets, it would be easy to be discouraged and believe that the progress made since the Stonewall riots of 1969, or even the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding same-sex marriage seven years, ago was in serious danger.
On Baltimore’s East 31st Street, three rowhomes, one of which displayed the pride flag, were set ablaze by an arsonist early Wednesday morning in an attack many believed was triggered by the presence of the rainbow colors. Yet within hours, neighbors were already scrambling to display the pride flag — in Waverly, in Charles Village, in Hampden and beyond. More than 200 flags were donated to the cause and shipped overnight by an Indiana company. They were gone quickly, such was the level of support for the victims of this attack.
So, which was the anomaly: the hateful attack or the rally of support?