Anti-gay thug smears poop on Pride bench, writing ‘F***ing Queers’
UPDATED | Cornwall Pride organisers have been left outraged after vandals wrote “F***ing Queers” on a park bench, which had been painted in rainbow colours in the lead up to county’s Pride march in August.
The incident took place on Saturday night at Killacourt in Newquay.
A photo sent to PinkNews by Cornwall Pride Twitter shows appears to be human faeces smeared across the partially painted Pride bench, which organisers said spelt out “F***ing Queers.”
Newquay Town Council had granted the Pride organisers permission to makeover three benches with the rainbow colours, including the 30ft long bench at Killacourt, which sit on the route of the town’s “Beach Parade” on August 25.
Volunteers spent about 26 hours scraping the original paint off the benches, and painting them over with the Pride stripes.
The bench on Killacourt had been given its first coat of paint and left to dry on Saturday night, when the vandalism took place.
Taking to Twitter, Cornwall Pride wrote: “Why LGBTQ+ Pride? Last Night Someone Shit on our unfinished #PrideBench and spelt out “F***ing Queers” in shit.
P.S Police have CCTV
“The Killacourt in @newquay #whypride #lovenohate #stongertogether #notinourcommunity.”
The vandalised Pride bench at Killacourt, Newquay. (Cornwall Pride)
Matthew Kenworthy Gomes, chairperson of Cornwall Pride, told PinkNews: “After all that hard work it was heart breaking to work through today knowing what had happened.
“This has been condemned by Cornwall Pride organisers the Newquay community leaders, council the Devon and Cornwall police as an obvious hate crime. It has been given to the police as and they will be investigating as they have CCTV of the area.
“A vile act of a individual or individuals that do not represent the feelings and support Newquay has for the community.
“Please do not allow this to deter that Newquay is incredibly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Cornwall Pride our supporters and the whole LGBTQ+ in Newquay are in shock but are now standing stronger against the hate, which is why Pride exists.
After the clean-up. (Cornwall Pride)
“Pride is a celebration of diversity but it is also a beacon and a protest against hate and discrimination of the entire LGBTQ+ community.”
The pride organisers said that the re-painted benches are the “south west’s first permanent Pride rainbow installation.”
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police told PinkNews: “Police are investigating the defacing of a bench in Newquay that took place over the weekend. A number of benches in the area have been painted to help celebrate the Pride event which is taking place shortly.
“It has been reported that one bench in The Crescent [where Killacourt is located] had been defecated on; a distasteful message was also scrawled across the bench.
“Police are currently in the midst of reviewing CCTV of the area. It is clear that someone will know who is responsible for this distasteful criminal damage, and we urge that they come forward and speak to the police.
“We will not accept intolerance within Devon and Cornwall, if you have any information that can help police please contact [email protected]. You can also give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
