A Kansas man is refusing to remove a pride flag outside his home after it was torched this weekend in an apparent arson attack police are investigating as a possible hate crime, local media reported.
Zack Gingrich-Gaylord woke up on Saturday morning to find the 15-foot flag attached to his Wichita front porch, “melted down into a plastic mess,” he told a local television station.
“It could have been a lot worse,” he told NBC affiliate KSNW. “It’s scary, then of course you’re really mad about it.”
Gingrich-Gaylord — who is married with children — originally installed the flag as a sign of support for family and friends who are part of the LGBTQ community, but neighbors don’t seem to share his sentiments.
The flag was stolen a couple of weeks ago, with a neighbor finding it in their front yard and returning it, before this weekend’s arson attack.
More people on the block had recently begun installing their own pride flags, but Gingrich Gaylord believes his display was targeted because his was the first.
“We’re obviously very concerned that someone would do something like this,” he told TV station KWCH 12. “That’s a very intrusive act that’s meant to silence somebody for expressing their views.”
The arson attack occurred sometime between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday, cops said. It came just days before Wichita’s pride weekend, which kicks off this Friday.
“We’re going to turn this around and make sure that we order more flags,” the homeowner said.
“We’re going to make sure our neighbors have flags if they want it. We’re just going to start spreading the word like, ‘Hey, it’s time to put up these flags.’ “
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