By Matt Tracy | NEW YORK CITY – Manhattan Councilman Erik Bottcher posted a collection of Twitter posts on December 19 that exposed images of anti-LGBTQ vandalism at his residence and workplace, the place bigots wrote insults like “groomer” they usually have been throwing threats like “we wish Erik”. “

Nevertheless, the incident might have been even worse: Bottcher stated the vandals “entered” his residence, which prompted the tremendous of his constructing to name the police.

Two ladies — 44-year-old Erica Sanchez and 27-year-old Anna Morgan — have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing their residence and workplace, based on the NYPD.

They allegedly entered Bottcher's workplace constructing on West thirtiethth Avenue at 3 o'clock within the afternoon and wrote “Bitcher” on the partitions. The alleged vandals then went to Bottcher's residence constructing and wrote messages like “baby predator” and “OK groomer” on the sidewalk. One of many messages on the sidewalk accused Bottcher of being a “pedo of youngsters.”

The unfounded accusations towards Bottcher symbolize the newest instance of the nationwide resurgence of the time period “groomer” as a homophobic slur hurled at homosexual males. In New York Metropolis, Queens Councilwoman Vickie Paladino unapologetically used the time period on social media when criticizing the drag story hour.

The scary scene at Bottcher's residence and work unfolded two days after he attended a drag story hour occasion and tweeted concerning the protesters who disturbed him.

“Tonight, the Drag Story Hour protesters got here to my residence and gained entry,” stated Bottcher, whose Metropolis Council district consists of Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Greenwich Village, West SoHo, Hudson Sq., Occasions Sq., Garment District, Flatiron and Higher West. Facet. “My tremendous referred to as the police and two of them have been arrested for violation. That is pure hatred, unmasked. In the event that they assume that this can intimidate us, they’re improper. Our dedication is strengthened.”

Simply two hours earlier than that tweet, Bottcher had posted on Twitter concerning the vandalism geared toward his workplace. He blamed the vandalism on “Gays Towards Groomers,” a gaggle of extremists identified for focusing on drag historical past hour occasions with anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and for routinely mocking gender-affirming environments for younger individuals. .

“Right now individuals who name themselves 'gays towards groomers' vandalized the hallway exterior our district workplace,” Bottcher stated. “We is not going to be intimidated. We is not going to be silenced. We are going to proceed to face towards hate.”

A day after the vandalism occurred, Bottcher launched a video clip that he stated confirmed the alleged assailants harassing individuals exterior his residence.

Elected officers representing each degree of presidency took to social media to indicate help for Bottcher. Two state lawmakers who symbolize Bottcher's space, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and state Sen. Brad Hoylman, have been amongst these talking out on Twitter.

“It's ironic that the hate is directed at some of the respectable and good metropolis council members on the market,” Hoylman wrote. “David, I and our daughters Silvia and Lucy are with you @ebottcher throughout this season of lights.”

Glick, responding to Bottcher's tweet about his residence, wrote: “Sorry for the inconvenience @GOP rhetoric has empowered ignorant and hateful bastards – they’re decided to show again the clock – However we’ll by no means return. @NYPDPC he must put his deal with all hate crimes.”

One other state lawmaker, state Sen. Jabari Brisport, tweeted: “Sorry Erik, that is so disgusting. Right here for you.”

Bottcher's Metropolis Council colleagues additionally stood in solidarity with him, together with members of the LGBTQIA+ Caucus.

“That is vile,” wrote Councilor Chi Ossé of Brooklyn. “I'm so sorry you needed to cope with this my good friend. Right here for you at all times!!!”

“I need to reiterate my solidarity with you Erik,” Councilwoman Lynn Schulman of Queens, additionally a member of the LGBTQIA+ Caucus, stated in a Twitter put up. “The Council as a complete has given funding to Drag Queen Story Hour, and this might occur to any of us. We should stand collectively in unison to help you and stand towards hate.

Metropolis Council President Adrienne Adams referred to as the assault “a harmful and critical violation of privateness.”

“The 'protesters who did this should proceed to be held accountable for his or her disgusting actions,” the speaker wrote. “We stand with you, @ebottcher. We are going to by no means permit hatred to prevail.”

The governor and mayor additionally jumped to Bottcher's aspect on Twitter.

“I'm so sorry you skilled this, Erik,” wrote Gov. Kathy Hochul. “We’re all with you. We are going to by no means tolerate this disgusting and hateful conduct in New York.”

Mayor Adams described the assaults on Bottcher's residence and workplace as “outrageous.”

“Erik, you arise for our metropolis every single day and these cowardly bigots haven’t any place right here,” Adams wrote. “Thanks to the NYPD on your fast work and sending the message that this hate is not going to go unchallenged.”

New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James tweeted: “This bigotry is disgusting. I'm glad you're protected @ebottcher, and I'm with you.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who was the lead sponsor of the wedding equality invoice that was signed into regulation this month, additionally spoke for Bottcher.

“I stand with my good friend @ebottcher, Drag Queen Story Hour, and the LGBTQ+ group towards this disgusting show of hate,” Nadler stated. “Elected officers have a duty to sentence this false and harmful rhetoric that has been used as a brand new approach to discriminate towards the group.”

Gays Towards Weapons, an advocacy group that has pushed for gun management because the Pulse bloodbath in 2016, wrote: “We stand with you, Erik. Sending all our love and help. It is a hate crime.”

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Matt Tracy is the editor-in-chief of Homosexual Metropolis Information.

The earlier piece was initially printed by Homosexual Metropolis Information and is republished with permission.



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