Locals show support for Windsor-Essex's LGBTQ community following hate motivated incidents

Following a series of hate motivated acts of vandalism directed at the WE Trans Support offices in the last week, community members showed up at the organization to deliver messages of positivity and hope. 

WE Trans staff, families and local artists arrived at the offices Wednesday in support of the LGBTQ community. The event was in response to three incidents that took place, which included homophobic and racist vandalism, along with a window being smashed. 

WATCH: Community members talk about the importance of spreading messages of love and hope in the community    

Messages of hope and positivity at WE TRANS Support

4 years ago

Duration 1:08

After a week with multiple acts of vandalism at the WE Trans builiding, members of the community came out to show their support. Family of staff and local artists came to colour the walls and spread messages of positivity and hope.

Windsor police's morality unit officers are investigating the incidents as hate crimes. 

10-year-old Peyton O'Brien was one of those in attendance. She came with her sister and grandparents to spread messages of love. 

"[We] came to colour on to the windows to support because we heard what happened in the window and everything else and I feel like it's important for others to feel loved and we want this to be a safe place for them to come to," O'Brien said.

Community on edge

CBC News spoke with members of WE Trans and those who are part of the LGBTQ community about the recent events. 

Jamie Plouffe said the incidents were hard to hear about. 

"I spent all day yesterday crying about it in bed ... it's very disheartening, it's very triggering, it's not something that, even as a member of a queer community you don't want to have to hear about anything happening to a member of the LGBTQ community," Plouffe told CBC News on Tuesday.