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
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.