Group that supports LGBTQ2S+ community in North Bay vandalized
A group of motorcycle enthusiasts in North Bay were victims of vandalism this week because of their support for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Lorieann Whittaker and the rest of the North Star Guardians club are disheartened after a member’s pickup truck was spray-painted Wednesday night with anti-LGBTQ2S+ rhetoric.
"This is happening in our backyard and a lot of people have been turning a blind eye," Whittaker said.
"I was upset at first and angry, but that just lit a fire to educate."
The interior and exterior of the truck belonging to club member Jimmy LaPorte was tagged Wednesday night between 11 p.m. and midnight on Sherryl Crescent.
Some of the vandalism is directly aimed at the group's support of the LGBTQ2S+ community. The front seats were also slashed with a knife that was left behind.
Phoenix Whittaker is a general queer community worker who works with LGBTQ2S+ children through the group who knows all too well about the effect that hate directed toward LGBTQ2S+ individuals can have.
"As someone in the queer community of northern Ontario, I was quite put back by it," Phoenix Whittaker said.
“But to say I was shocked, well I’m really not. It’s still sad this is happening in 2022.”
The vandalism comes a month after the group publicly supported OutLoud North Bay when the LGBTQ2S+ youth space was flooded with online hate and death threats for wanting to host a youth drag show.
Club members guarded the safe space and held a fundraiser for the organization.
"We are a very active advocate for OutLoud and we are a very active group for the queer community," said Lorieann Whittaker.
"We accept everyone and anyone."
According to Statistics Canada, the queer community is two times more likely to suffer discrimination than other groups.
North Star Guardians help disadvantaged, bullied and abused children and their families through support, mentorship and liaison.
North Bay police confirm an investigation is currently open to determine whether there's a link to last month's OutLoud threats.
"At this point, the investigation will tell us that," said Insp. Jeff Warner.
"There is an investigation underway into the offence of mischief. Depending on the value of damage, it could be mischief over $5,000."
Police are encouraging anyone with home or dash camera video footage to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
As for North Star Guardians, the club said an act of vandalism won’t stop their support of youth in the community
"We won’t stop what we’re doing. We have a mission and our mission includes standing with the queer community," said Lorieann Whittaker.
Correction
The name of the street the vandalism happen on has been corrected. It is Sherryl Crescent, not Cheryl Street as orginally published.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.