Pride group: ‘A heinous, hateful act’
Police investigate burning of LGBTQ flag at Bethel coffee shop
BETHEL — Police said Tuesday they are investigating the burning of an LGBTQ pride flag that hung outside a Bethel coffee shop.
The flag, usually displayed on the fencing outside Molten Java on Greenwood Avenue, was found burned Sunday morning outside of the business, according to a Facebook post authored by the business’ owner, Wendy Cahill.
“It’s a disgusting act of hate. It’s an attack on our whole community,” First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said said.
“It had a purpose to it, to intimidate a person who is displaying their respect for all people’s rights. It’s a very poor reflection on the people who did this,” he added.
Police officials said they are not yet classifying it as a hate crime and are following leads.
Bethel’s Molten Java Cafe has received an outpouring of support.
“I love this town. I hesitated thinking that this incident would make anyone question the overwhelming support, kindness and sense of community we have. It’s a town full of amazing individuals and I feel very lucky to live and work here,” Cahill said in the post.
“So, no, this incident doesn’t
represent where we live, but it’s important to know that it happens here ... even here,” she added.
Cahill told The NewsTimes she’s usually not sensitive to attacks against the LGBTQ community, but that this instance felt “way more personal.”
“If I had a chance to talk to them, I would ask what was the motivation and feeling behind it. Obviously hatred and homophobia but I don’t know why they would take the time to express it that way,” she said. “It’s hard to say.”
This Molten Java incident is the latest in the area. In July 2020, a Bethel resident’s pride flag was stolen from his property. Before that, another flag flying at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury was twice burned in 2016.
State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, a Democrat who represents Bethel, said it’s “heartbreaking” to hear about an incident like such.
“An act against one of us is an act against all of us,” he said, while noting “the actions of one or a few individuals doesn’t represent the views of our diverse town.”
“Being gay, in a small town is not easy and I know that personally. The pride flag is a meaningful symbol that defines a community of love and acceptance,” he added.
Allie-Brennan believes people can take incidents like this and make them an opportunity to start conversations about acceptance and kindness.
The Bethel CT Pride organization issued a statement on Facebook saying Molten Java Cafe’s flag was a “beacon of inclusivity and community that flew outside of the space,” making it a safe haven to the LGBTQ+ community before the local group was even formed.
The group called the flag’s burning was deemed “a heinous, hateful act.”
“But we can extinguish their flames of vandalism. They cannot extinguish the power, love, and mere existence of our community,” they wrote in the post.
Hannah Lipman, a 26year resident in Bethel, said this incident was “horrible,” and “definitely not who this town is.”
“There’s so much support here and acceptance. I don’t know where this came from but I think we need to speak out against it,” she said.
“We can’t look away from this,” she added. “Speaking out against this is very important and supporting Molten Java is important.”