One of the benches painted in rainbow colors in Newquay. | Photo: Courtesy of Cornwall Pride
Two rainbow benches set to celebrate Cornwall Pride were covered in excrement within hours of completion on the night of 21 July.
The only permanent rainbow installation celebrating the LGBTI community in south-western England, the Beach Parade benches in Newquay were the results of negotiations between Newquay Town Council and Cornwall Pride.
The council was excited about the project. They also granted permission to paint other seven benches across the iconic Killacourt on Newquay’s front in rainbow colors. But it didn’t go quite as planned.
A disgusting surprise
Anti-LGBTI vandals smeared feces on the rainbow benches. | Photo: Courtesy of Cornwall Pride
Despite the joint effort, a disgusting, shocking surprise awaited Cornwall Pride organizers.
They were completely gutted to find out someone defecated and wrote ‘f*cking queers’ using their feces. Furthermore, the vile act took place just 13 hours after the completion of the artwork.
Volunteers were at work to paint the rainbow benches
Volunteers at work to paint the benches. | Photo: Courtesy of Cornwall Pride
40 volunteers had worked together for two days to redevelop the Beach Parade zone. Apart from painting the benches in bold rainbow colors, the team had stripped old paint from the railings and repainted them. They also weeded the area and planted new bowers.
The rainbow installation was about to be unveiled to celebrate Pride season in Cornwall, ahead of the parade later this summer. Anti-LGBTI vandals, however, promptly ruined the benches in the most horrible way, jeopardizing the work of the team of volunteers.
The reactions
Cornwall Pride organizers immediately took to social media to express their outrage.
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@stonewalluk @TheGayUK @DCP_Diversity @edenproject pic.twitter.com/x2F5F8ApZp— Cornwall Pride (@CornwallPrideTM) July 22, 2018
‘Why LGBTQ+ Pride? Last Night Someone Sh*t on our unfinished #PrideBench and spelt out “F***ing Queers” in sh*t. P.S Police have CCTV,’ read the tweet.
On their Facebook page, organizers confirmed they had to scrap and repaint the benches.
Cornwall Pride Parade
Come Out For Cornwall Pride took the Pride flag to St. Michael’s Mount. | Photo: The Gay UK magazine
Following the beautiful Pride tour the region hosted last 23 June, the big parade day will kick off at 12pm on 25 August in Towan Beach, moving on to Killacourt and Tall Trees in Newquay.
Now in its second year, this parade is set to be crucial after the vile act. Last year’s march, the first in Cornwall, took place smoothly with no protests or anti-LGBTI crimes in sight.
Read more about Prides:
Gay Paris deputy mayor slams anti-LGBTI vandals who deface rainbow crosswalk
