An unknown vandal knocked down and crushed a pro-LGBTQ+ display of rainbow-colored doors outside of the First Congregational Church of Fresno in California. While neighbors quickly restored the welcoming display, local police are searching for the vandal (but are not investigating the incident as a hate crime). The church is now working to build a new, welcoming installation in its place.
At around 6 am on Sunday, August 9, the church’s Rev. Simon Biasell-Moshrefi was notified that someone had knocked down and crushed some of the six doors outside, each of which is painted in a different color of the Pride flag and bears a single word in the phrase, “God’s doors are open to all.”
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“This is unfortunately not the first time that these doors have been vandalized. It happened earlier this summer as well,” Biasell-Moshrefi told the news station KSEE/KGPE, adding that it has received negative responses to its affirmation of LGBTQ+ people. “Our church members unfortunately have gotten used to that kind of hate language, that treatment. So while this wasn’t anything new, it’s still painful to experience that kind of treatment.”
The church—also known as The Big Red Church because of its tall red-brick exterior—erected the display during the most recent Pride Month. Despite the recent vandalism, neighbors had set the doors back by the time the church’s Sunday morning service had ended.
“By the time everybody exited church, our neighbors had reinstalled the doors and put it back up, which is one of the wonderful things about this neighborhood, the Tower District,” Biasell-Moshrefi said.
“These doors weren’t just built by a congregation, they were built by kids, teens, and adults who believe that the Big Red Church and its doors are open to everyone,” the church wrote in an August 13 Instagram post advertising a fundraiser for local artists to help build a new installation outside of the church.
The Fresno Police Department told KMPH that the vandalism is not being investigated as a hate crime.
The church has existed in its current location since 1949. Its website proclaims, “We believe that all people are sacred creations of a loving God. We affirm the diversity that exists among us…. As Christians, we experience God’s reconciling love. In response, we stand with those who suffer discrimination, isolation, and alienation.”
“We welcome all people to participate fully in our church’s life and ministry,” the website continues. “We celebrate the variety of talents and perspectives that flow into our spiritual community.”
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