During the World Pride celebration in Sydney, Australia, the rainbow steps in front of the Pitt Street Uniting Church were vandalized, but the church’s community quickly responded with a message of love and acceptance. The steps were defaced with grey paint and the message “F**k the LGBT” by two unknown vandals. However, less than half a day later, the church community repainted the steps, refusing to let the hateful act deter them from their welcoming message.
The incident was recorded and posted on social media by one of the vandals. In the video, a man is seen asking the church volunteers who were painting the steps whether their actions were Christian, and whether God supports same-sex marriage. The volunteers calmly responded that God supports love and hospitality, which angered the man, who proceeded to verbally attack them and called them “disgusting.”
The incident drew the attention of the Sydney City Police Area Command, who are currently investigating the matter. The Christian Lives Matter Facebook page also reposted the video, praising the vandals and referring to them as “superheroes” who were adding their “artistic touches” to the church steps. The group has previously been removed from Facebook for violating the social network’s hate speech policies.
The following day, the church quickly repainted the steps and posted photos of them on Twitter. Church members then marched in the World Pride parade under a banner that read “Rainbow Christians Together.” The church’s response was praised by Uniting Church President Rev. Sharon Hollis, who said in a statement that “hate is never acceptable” and that all people should feel welcome and safe in places of worship.
Rev. Dr. Josephine Inkpin of the Pitt Street Uniting Church also spoke out against the vandalism, calling it sad but not surprising. She stated that the church has faced opposition for years over their stance on justice and inclusion, but remains strong and determined in their message of acceptance. The church regularly holds interfaith and intercultural events for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and trans people.
The incident occurred during a week-long World Pride celebration in Sydney, which saw an estimated 500,000 people participate in events. Despite the vandalism, the Pitt Street Uniting Church remained committed to their message of love and acceptance, and their response has been a source of inspiration for many in the LGBTQ+ community.