When James Holmes, the operations manager of Friends of Dorothy, arrived at work on July 4, he found that the popular safe space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in downtown 琉璃神社 had been vandalized. 

Holmes first noticed that the flowers that had been lovingly hand planted out front of Friends of Dorothys were ripped out and thrown on the ground. Most dishearteningly, he also found the Trans Pride flag that flew over the entrance to the bar had been torn down and stuffed in the trash. 

While vandalism has been a consistent issue impacting businesses in downtown 琉璃神社 over the last few years, Holmes said that in this particular instance, the act appears to have been more targeted than usual, considering the lengths the v.

鈥淲e cannot turn a blind eye or pass it off as no big deal,鈥� said 琉璃神社 City Councillor Loyal Wooldridge after the incident. 

鈥淲hen we see these acts it鈥檚 important to stand up against hate and intolerance and that responsibility falls on all of us,鈥� said Wooldridge. 

Friends of Dorothy is now inviting allies to replant the flowers that were ripped out in the vandalism. 

Holmes said people are encouraged to bring their own flowers and stop by the lounge to plant them at any time. People are welcome to plant their flowers quietly and anonymously, but if gardeners would like, Friends of Dorothy would love to share a moment of love and commemorate the allyship.

The lounge would like to place name tags of the gardeners alongside their flowers as a reminder of the loving and caring people who support Friends of Dorothy. 

If the lounge is closed when people stop by they are welcome to call at +1 (236) 420 4565 and leave a message with their name and description of what they planted and which flower box it was placed in. 

The Trans Pride Flag has also already been remounted above the entrance to the lounge. 

鈥淲e need our allies to stand up to actions and words of hate, to show that the queer community is truly supported,鈥�  said Darrien McWatters, an advocate for the queer community, and spokesperson for Advocacy Canada. 

鈥淚 ask all our allies to stand up, speak up and show up in support too."