The Pride Fence in Scripps Ranch was the target of yet another hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community.
On Tuesday, the Pride Fence was painted with a homophobic slur that said, “F— the f—.” This isn’t the first time the fence has been marred with harsh words and vulgar symbols either.
The fence has been repainted a number of times due to vandalism, but was initially painted in 2022. It is owned and maintained by Brittany Fuller, who initially painted the fence to provide visibility for nonbinary students at nearby Thurgood Marshall Middle School.
Fuller wanted to show the students they weren’t alone, but she also wanted to show the community the hate the middle schoolers were experiencing at school.
“I needed to make sure that if these kids wanted to show up and hate like, do it here, because the community needs to know what’s happening in our schools. The community needs to know,” Fuller said.
She also founded the Scripps Ranch Pride Council in 2022 to promote a safe and supportive community in her childhood neighborhood.
She is no stranger to the hate the fence receives, but that doesn’t make dealing with the emotions of it any easier. Despite the sense of numbness she feels, she said, “If the feeling is not the same as it was the first time, it’s definitely worse.”
The vandalism doesn’t come as much of a shock anymore, but “it’s still upsetting and it’s still very sad and hurtful,” she continued.
But with the hurtful messages comes visibility and attention to what’s being said. Fuller said she’s never had more people stop to take photos of the fence, or even knock on her front door to chat about it as she did on Tuesday. Facebook groups for the neighborhood were also abuzz.
Fuller said the slur was left up for longer this time around — in part because she was waiting for the police, but also so the community could see what occurred.
“It’s so sad to say, but that’s, unfortunately, what is necessary for people to recognize what is going on,” she said.
San Diego Pride condemned the act of vandalism – which was found just two days after the annual Pride events ended in Hillcrest – and released a statement on Instagram, bringing further attention to the Pride Fence.
A post shared by San Diego Pride (@sandiegopride)
“This only strengthens our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive space for all. As San Diegans, we must unite against those who want to bully and silence us. We will not disappear, and we will not be intimidated,” part of the statement read.
City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, who serves Scripps Ranch, also released a statement condemning the fence graffiti.
“I am outraged and heartbroken by the hateful vandalism of a PRIDE display in my hometown of Scripps Ranch. These acts are being fueled by a wave of division, bigotry and hate across our country, and they do not reflect the values of our broader community which are grounded in love and acceptance,” Wilpert wrote.
San Diego police were called to the fence on Tuesday and is currently investigating the vandalism.
“The San Diego Police Department Hate Crimes Unit takes this crime very seriously. The Hate Crimes Unit is actively working the case. We are canvassing the neighborhood, reviewing surveillance footage, and evaluating all other possible investigative leads to hold those responsible accountable,” the department said in a statement.
While waiting for action, Fuller isn’t repainting like she has in the past. After years of re-painting due to similar vandalism, Fuller said the fence is in need of a little more than a fresh coat.
She is raising money for a new fence that she will then paint again with the help of her friends and family. Despite hateful messages, Fuller keeps the fence going. She said she’s able to stay strong because of the community’s support, and largely because of her mom, who was an active ally throughout Fuller’s childhood and on.
Fuller won’t back down from a fight, though she’s not using physical force or harsh words to fight back. She’s spreading a message and showing support for the LGBTQ+ community via her colorful fence.
“For me, people are like, ‘Why is it such a loud statement?’ And I’m like, well, when the hate is so loud, you have to meet it with something just as loud, right? And so we’re meeting it with love,” she said.
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