Police Chief Brings New Pride Flag to Gay Couple After Theirs Was Burned

A gay couple in Burlington, Vermont were the victims of a hate crime on June 1, when someone lit their rainbow flag on fire as it hung from a banister on their porch.

Just days later, Burlington Deputy Police Chief Jon Murad visited the couple, Christopher Vaccaro and Jimmie Searle, at their home, and he was bearing gifts. Murad brought them a new Pride flag to replace the one that had been burned, and inside was a note addressing the history of anti-LGBTQ violence by police, including at the Stonewall Inn, in 1969.

“That was a really touching thing,” Vaccaro told the Burlington Free Press. “Actually, we both started to get a little teary-eyed.”

Vaccaro and Searle were away when the incident took place, on a trip to Montreal, and police are still investigating.

“It’s a lot more than just burning a flag down,” said Searle. “They could have killed people. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s just frightening that someone thought that that was okay; that it was an acceptable risk due to their hatred.”

“There’s no question that nationally, cities, towns and states are receiving more reports and are connecting more investigations of reported hate crimes,” said Julio Thompson, assistant to the Vermont attorney general. Thompson said that increase included Vermont.

According to the FBI’s latest available statistics, hate crimes rose 17% in 2017, and while more police stations began reporting hate crimes that year, it was not enough to explain the sizeable increase.

“Identity-related crimes have a ripple effect,” said Skylar Wolfe, director of the SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program at the Vermont Pride Center, who commended the police department’s action in this case. “When one of us is hurt out of hate due to our identities, many others experience fear, pain and feelings of isolation.”

“Hate crime is a terrible way to begin Pride Month. It shows that we still have a long way to go collectively,” said Murad. “But we have come a long way as well, and I think that our police response is indicative of that.”

“If you’re supporting someone, then fly the flag; let people know that it’s okay,” said Vaccaro. He also asked the Burlington City Council to consider painting a couple of rainbow crosswalks to show support for the local LGBTQ community.

“Other cities are doing this and it sends the message to all LGBT residents that they are supported, valued, and protected.”

A local news report follows.