Pride Month signs in Sydney’s south-west have been vandalised for the second year in a row, as LGBTQ advocates warn attacks on queer people and events are occurring at alarming rates.
Weeks after Cumberland Council attempted to ban a same-sex parenting book, the Pride display in central Camden, south-west of Sydney, was again hit by vandals – whose actions were celebrated on social media.
The Pride Month display at the corner of Argyle and John streets in Camden was hit by vandalism for the second year running.
Photos posted to a local Facebook group – which were later removed after the discussion became derogatory – show the letter “P” had been stripped from the display, and other letters upended. A similar sign at the same location was destroyed last year.
Pride Month is generally celebrated in June in the northern hemisphere, though in recent times it has become more prevalent in Australia, in addition to Mardi Gras celebrations earlier in the year.
Camden Council said in a statement it was deeply disappointed by the act of vandalism, and was organising a replacement.
Camden Council said it was deeply disappointed and would replace the display.
“Being a welcoming, inclusive and diverse community are core community values for Camden,” it said. “We are certain the vandalism reflects the views of a minority within the community because we know the vast majority of our residents are supportive, positive and respectful.”
But many people celebrated the vandalism on social media. Photos of a now-deleted thread in a community Facebook group show one person said there was no equivalent pride day for straight people, “let alone a month”, and “kudos to the person who kicked it over”.
Another person said LGBTQ people should “stop rubbing this crap in our faces”. “No one cares what way you want to take it just don’t share it with the rest of us,” they wrote in a comment liked at least 22 times. Another said the display should be torched.
Others, however, deplored the damage. “Camden is better than this,” wrote Jason Stevenson. “We don’t have to destroy something we don’t understand or agree with. Let’s all just live together.”
The person who sent the photos to the Herald identified themselves as the mother of a teenage daughter who had recently come out as lesbian, and said the worst part of the incident was the positive reaction from so many locals. The discussion attracted more than 250 comments before being deleted.
Protests at Cumberland City Council in May as elected representatives reconsidered their book ban.Credit: Rhett Wyman
It follows increasing resistance to other community activities designed to foster awareness and inclusion of the LGBTQ community, such as “drag story time” events at council libraries. They involve drag queens and kings reading children’s books to children.
During Mardi Gras earlier this year, the ABC cancelled a drag story time event it had planned at Rockdale Library due to what the broadcaster said was a “hateful and offensive response” to its callout for participation.
In May, Cumberland City Council banned a library book on same-sex parents, claiming it was sexualising young children. After a public outcry that involved Premier Chris Minns and garnered international headlines, councillors reversed their decision.
Ghassan Kassisieh, legal director at LGBTQ interest group Equality Australia, said public artwork showed people they were accepted and included, and it only took one person’s act of vandalism to make the whole community feel unsafe and unwelcome.
“That’s why it’s up to all of us to condemn this vandalism and stand up against hate, as attacks on LGBTIQ people, visibility and events are currently taking place at alarming rates,” he said. “We all want to live in communities that treat us as equals.”
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