"My message is to you: If you are out there taking our flags, or you're taking our symbols- know that you can't take away our pride," Darrow said. Later Thursday evening, the Kaysville family posted in a social media group that they have received messages of support and love, as well as small gifts like flowers and a brand-new pride flag to replace the one that was burned. "Stop worrying about others opinions," read another note. "I cherish my gorgeous queer children," one person wrote. It's evident by the notes within the Story Garden. Read - Why Pride Month is celebrated in the month of Juneĭespite the negative actions, Darrow indicated that the deep feelings of love and support prevail. "These are children in these homes that are showing their pride- sometimes for the first time- and people are taking that from them." "It's not just us as adults that this is affecting. She said it starts to make them feel like people don't want them to exist. "We were absolutely heartbroken," Darrow said, upon hearing what happened in Kaysville and Murray. Another told Fox 13 someone stole her daughter's flag that was on display in front of the house. One person told Fox 13 they reported the theft to police. In Murray, at least a few residents reported that their pride flags were stolen. The hate crime would enhance the degree of the arson charge, Ofc. "It's going to be, we're looking at arson charges." "We are currently investigating this as a hate crime," she said. She described the words in the note as "derogatory." "The note just had a bunch of scriptures from the bible that were talking about the pride community," Kaysville Officer Lexi Benson said. The person left behind a lengthy note, titled "Your shameless degeneracy is a mockery to God's creation." Wednesday night, Kaysville Police said someone cut down the pride flag from the home's flagpole, then lit it on fire. It's that message that was flying at a Kaysville home, when it was met with another kind of note, also expressing deep feelings. "And when other people are doing it that are say, allies- they're doing it to say, 'I love you too and I'm proud of you too.'" "When I put it out, I'm saying, 'This is me and I'm proud,'" she said. The flags can be seen waving in front yards of thousands of Utah homes this month. Those authentic selves are often expressed symbolically through the LGBTQ rainbow pride flag, and Darrow explained the flags show representation. "I wanted them to know that we are here in this space to make them find their true, authentic selves," Darrow said. Read - Pride flags explained: Flags take different forms to represent different LGBTQ+ groups "You deserve to belong, you deserve to love, you deserve to be you," the sign reads. She's the Youth, Family, and Education Director at the Utah Pride Center.
There's a note there too printed on a sign, written by Amanda Darrow. "Every kid finds their love and community," wrote another.Īnother area of the Story Garden is set aside just for LGBTQ youth to hang out, have fun, and find community. Some people explained what they wish the most would come true in the world. The answers include anything from fears, to hopes. In the middle of the area, a table with pens and paper sits ready for people to write down their deepest thoughts and feelings, to hang on the display with clothes pins. Read - Utah's governor issues proclamation celebrating LGBTQ Pride
Within the exhibit, there's an area where hand-written notes are hanging from strings stretched along a fence. This is all coming right as the Utah Pride Festival Story Garden opened to the public Thursday. A resident in Murray told FOX 13 they, too, had to call police after what happened in their front yard. It's not the only incident regarding an LGBTQ pride flag reported to police this week. Kaysville Police is now investigating it as a hate crime and hoping to find the person responsible. KAYSVILLE, Utah - A Kaysville family is thanking the community for an outpouring of support, after the family discovered someone tore down their rainbow pride flag, lit it on fire, then left a derogatory note behind.