Masked vandal cuts down Launceston’s Pride flags hours after raised

Pride flags in a Tasmanian city were quickly slashed by a vandal hours after they were put up.

Vandal strikes pride flags at Launceston

A vandal has struck down a number of pride flags only hours after they were placed on the Launceston mall.

The pride flags were placed in the mall on Wednesday afternoon at around 2pm in honour of Pride Month.

These were the first time the City of Launceston Council have put on pride flags in honour of the month.

Merely hours later, at around 4am Thursday, a masked vandal climbed almost every flag pole to slash the flags.

Business owner Robyn Smith caught the acts on his CCTV.

“We’re used to vandalism, but this is a hate crime,” he said.

One person walked into the mall in the early morning hours on Thursday, climbed up the flag pole to slash the flag, then pulled the torn flag to rip it off.

Vandal strikes rainbow LGBTQIA+ flag in Launceston during Pride Month. Picture: Supplied CCTV

Almost every flag in the mall was vandalised.

Mr Smith, who runs the cafe Coffee Republic, was disappointed.

“This is about Pride Month,” he said.

“They’ve only just gone up. It’s the hatred someone must have over something so innocuous.

“This is spiteful.”

Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome said acts of hateful vandalism were why pride month was so important.

“It’s extremely disappointing Launceston’s first ever pride flags have been targeted in what seems like a hate motivated attack,” he said.

“Most people will abhor this act of vandalism and I hope it will galvanise support for LGBTQIA inclusion.”

Pride flags slashed in Launceston mall hours after being raised. Picture: Alison Foletta

Mr Croome said given the number of cases of vandalism in Tasmania this year, he was concerned over the wider impact on the LGBTQIA+ community.

“In February, there was similar vandalism against pride flags in Hobart, and we’ve seen vandalism against LGBTIQA+ plaques and memorials across the state,” he said.

“This is very deeply concerning to us, and we have raised this with Tasmania Police and asked them to ensure that these places where our community is memorialised and celebrated are protected and that the police are aware of this rise in vandalism and this rise in hate.”

Tasmania Police said they were investigating and asked for information and witnesses who saw any suspicious activity in the area about 4am Thursday.

Contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.

Vandal strikes rainbow LGBTQIA+ flag in Launceston during Pride Month. Picture: Supplied CCTV

Vandal strikes rainbow LGBTQIA+ flag in Launceston during Pride Month. Picture: Supplied CCTV

The flags have been replaced with Hawthorn AFL flags to promote an upcoming match but the plan was to swap out the flags after a week anyway, according to City of Launceston mayor Matthew Garwood.

“I really do want to push forward that this behaviour is absolutely condemned by the City of Launceston, and I would like to think by the community.” he said.

“I would like to think the ways in which we can move forward … is around positive conversation. Let’s use this as an ability to have those conversations around broadening awareness and inclusion and really pushing those priorities that the council have.”

Mr Garwood said council will have to look at the logistics if the banners can be replaced.

Thursday marks the first LGBTQIA+ inclusion forum for local government in Tasmania.

Mr Croome said it was key to community moving forward, especially after the vandalism in Launceston.

“It’s a forum to allow people from different councils across the state to learn about how they can do better, to include LGBTIQA + people to hear our voices and to act on our concerns,” he said.

Pride flags slashed in Launceston mall hours after being raised. Picture: Alison Foletta

Originally published as Masked vandal cuts down Launceston’s Pride flags hours after raised