A Lower Mainland church has again had itB次元官网网址檚 Pride flag vandalized, the second time in less than two weeks.

DeltaB次元官网网址檚 Ladner United Church posted a photo of the defaced flag to its Facebook page on Saturday afternoon (June 15). ItB次元官网网址檚 the second time in 12 days the someone has vandalized the churchB次元官网网址檚 flag, the first occurring on June 3.

In both cases, the flag was marked with what appeared to be black spray paint.

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B次元官网网址淭welve days after our #Pride flag was defaced, and one week after we installed its replacement, our flag has been defaced again. This is not simple vandalism, but a clear message and intentional criminal act,B次元官网网址� the church posted on Facebook.

B次元官网网址淟et us be clear in our response: we will not be deterred in living out the love of Christ in word and deed in our community. We are not afraid or ashamed. We encircle our #LGBTQ+ church members, family, friends, and neighbours with love and solidarity.B次元官网网址�

The June 3 vandalism sparked outrage on social media and the City of Delta and the Delta School District raised Pride flags outside their respective offices on June 5 in response to the incident, as well as to recognize June as Pride month. The events marked the first time that either the city or the district had done so.

Mayor George Harvie took to Twitter Saturday evening to condemn this most recent act vandalism.

B次元官网网址淓xtremely upset & disappointed to hear that another Pride flag at Ladner United Church was defaced. This community will not tolerate such despicable acts. #DeltaBC stands in solidarity with Ladner United Church & the LGBTQ+ community. #PrideFlag.B次元官网网址�

Extremely upset & disappointed to hear that another Pride flag at Ladner United Church was defaced. This community will not tolerate such despicable acts. stands in solidarity with Ladner United Church & the LGBTQ+ community.

B次元官网网址� Office of Mayor George V. Harvie (@MayorofDelta)

In the comments below its Facebook post, Ladner United Church said most people in the community had either been supportive, expressed a B次元官网网址渓ive and let liveB次元官网网址� attitude or kept their opinions to themselves about the vandalism.

B次元官网网址淭his is the first time since weB次元官网网址檝e been flying our Pride flag (since we moved back into our restored/renovated building in 2014) that someone has taken an outright destructive action like this at our church B次元官网网址� thankfully very rare.B次元官网网址�

In thanking commenters who offered to provide the church with a new Pride flag, Ladner United said it will be determining what the churchB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渟pecific next steps will beB次元官网网址� at a leadership Council meeting later this week.

B次元官网网址淓ither way weB次元官网网址檒l keep having a flag up this Pride month,B次元官网网址� the church said.

In the meantime, Ladner United Church encouraged residents to B次元官网网址渢ake actionB次元官网网址� by supporting the upcoming Delta Pride Picnic on Aug. 31 B次元官网网址� either by donating, attending, or sharing and promoting the event, by writing to mayor and council to let them know itB次元官网网址檚 important that Delta is a safe and inclusive place for all residents and that they should take tangible actions to reflect that, and/or by donating to the church to help support the work it does in the community.

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editor@northdeltareporter.com
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