The New York Police Department (NYPD) is currently searching for an unidentified man who defecated on two Pride flags at Buceo 95, a restaurant in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, on April 15. According to the NYPD, the suspect entered the establishment and defecated on a rainbow Pride flag before taking another and wiping himself with it. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
Buceo 95 is reportedly a welcoming and inclusive establishment for the LGBTQ+ community. The restaurant’s general manager, Nathan Nolen Edwards, stated that their staff includes many LGBTQ+ individuals, including professional drag queens. “It’s definitely a punch to the gut…A defecation on a Pride flag is not the norm here,” he said.
The restaurant owner, Courtney Barroll, has vowed to stand firm against the alleged hate crime, stating that she will replace the two stolen flags with an additional fifty Pride flags.
Unfortunately, this incident is one of several attacks against the LGBTQ+ community in New York City over the past year. Other incidents include a couple being attacked in Times Square, a man being stabbed and subjected to homophobic abuse in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, and the ongoing cases of two men who were drugged and robbed after leaving LGBTQ+ venues, which have now been ruled as homicides.
As the investigation continues, the NYPD has shared a video of the suspect on their Instagram tips page, and they are offering a reward of up to $3,500 for any information that may lead to an arrest. The NYPD is urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
In a city that has long prided itself on its inclusivity and diversity, these incidents are a harsh reminder of the ongoing work needed to ensure the safety and acceptance of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.