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

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

Two ladies — 44-year-old Erica Sanchez and 27-year-old Anna Morgan — had been arrested for allegedly vandalizing their dwelling and workplace, in response to the NYPD.

They allegedly entered Bottcher's workplace constructing on West thirtiethth Road at 3 o'clock within the afternoon and wrote “Bitcher” on the partitions. The alleged vandals then went to Bottcher's condominium constructing and wrote messages like “youngster 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 in opposition to Bottcher signify the most recent 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 dwelling 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 condominium and gained entry,” stated Bottcher, whose Metropolis Council district contains Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Greenwich Village, West SoHo, Hudson Sq., Instances Sq., Garment District, Flatiron and Higher West. Aspect. “My tremendous known as the police and two of them had been arrested for violation. That is pure hatred, unmasked. In the event that they assume that this can intimidate us, they’re fallacious. Our dedication is strengthened.”

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

“In the present day individuals who name themselves 'gays in opposition to groomers' vandalized the hallway exterior our district workplace,” Bottcher stated. “We won’t be intimidated. We won’t be silenced. We are going to proceed to face in opposition to hate.”

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

Elected officers representing each stage of presidency took to social media to point out assist for Bottcher. Two state lawmakers who signify Bottcher's space, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and state Sen. Brad Hoylman, had been amongst these talking out on Twitter.

“It's ironic that the hate is directed at one of the crucial 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 condominium, wrote: “Sorry for the inconvenience @GOP rhetoric has empowered ignorant and hateful bastards – they’re decided to show again the clock – However we are going to by no means return. @NYPDPC he must put his concentrate on 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 all the time!!!”

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

Metropolis Council President Adrienne Adams known as the assault “a harmful and severe 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 enable hatred to prevail.”

The governor and mayor additionally jumped to Bottcher's facet 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 habits in New York.”

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

“Erik, you get up for our metropolis on daily basis and these cowardly bigots haven’t any place right here,” Adams wrote. “Thanks to the NYPD in your fast work and sending the message that this hate won’t go unchallenged.”

New York Lawyer Basic Letitia James tweeted: “This bigotry is disgusting. I'm glad you're secure @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 in opposition to this disgusting show of hate,” Nadler stated. “Elected officers have a accountability to sentence this false and harmful rhetoric that has been used as a brand new method to discriminate in opposition to the group.”

Gays In opposition to Weapons, an advocacy group that has pushed for gun management for the reason that Pulse bloodbath in 2016, wrote: “We stand with you, Erik. Sending all our love and assist. This can be a hate crime.”

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

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



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