When Angela Skaley arrived at work at the Grove Art Gallery last Monday morning, she found a nasty surprise glued to the front door and the glass over the galleryB次元官网网址檚 community bulletin board. Someone had affixed handmade posters targeting the Pride flag, on the first day of Pride Week in the Alberni Valley.
It was disheartening, said Skaley, who is new in her role as arts administrator for the Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley. B次元官网网址淭he instant feeling was a feeling of fear that we were targeted,B次元官网网址� she said.
The Grove hosted two youth-oriented Pride events as part of Pride Week, two of several events planned throughout the week.
B次元官网网址淪eeing hateful material directed at us was scary. That was quickly surpassed with anger because I am protective of our community and I feel very strongly about protecting vulnerable people,B次元官网网址� Skaley added. B次元官网网址淚 feel people in our Pride community, especially youth, to be a vulnerable community.B次元官网网址�
Skaley said after taking photos she tore the posters off the windows then called police.
The gallery went ahead with their events. B次元官网网址淗ate speech will not stop us,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淔earmongering is not going to affect us. We are stronger together as a community and this will not stop us.
B次元官网网址淲e have queer and trans members of the arts council and the arts community and we want to protect them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e want to protect queer art.B次元官网网址�
She said people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community B次元官网网址渁re human beings,B次元官网网址� and that if the people who put up the posters have questions they should just ask.
Alberni Valley Pride president Carrie Thorpe said she was sad to hear about the vandalism targeting the Grove Art Gallery because the Grove has been a huge supporter of Pride activities.
B次元官网网址淚t has been a difficult year for our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, with witnessing anti-SOGI 123 protests in September, reading hurtful comments online and now hearing about the hate that was displayed at the Grove Gallery during Pride Week,B次元官网网址� Thorpe said.
B次元官网网址淒uring these difficult times we remind ourselves of the amazing community allies that support us,B次元官网网址� especially the City of Port Alberni, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and those who have taken the Alberni Valley Pride Ally training, she said.
Thorpe said she hadnB次元官网网址檛 heard of any other venues targeted for hosting Pride activities, but some people B次元官网网址渧oiced concernB次元官网网址� about drag queen activities, B次元官网网址渆ven showing up at a city facility during a registered event.B次元官网网址�
She invited anyone with questions to email albernivalleypride@gmail.com. B次元官网网址淓ducation is very powerful and if anyone wants to learn more about what we do, how we support the community to be inclusive of all and how to accept 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals for who they are, please reach out to us.B次元官网网址�
