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Bible verses painted over Nanaimo’s rainbow crosswalks

Sep 9, 2016 | 11:45 AM

NANAIMO — Police in Nanaimo are investigating after a Bible verse referencing unlawful sexual acts was spray painted over one of the rainbow crosswalks downtown.

RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien says the graffiti was found Friday morning by people going to work in the downtown core and was likely painted some time overnight Thursday.

“There’s some references to some biblical passages and based on where it was spray painted, we believe it’s an anti-sexual reference,” says O’Brien.

Two crosswalks at the corner of Commercial and Bastion Streets were painted in rainbow colours in early June, a move approved by city council to show support for Pride Week in Nanaimo, which included the city’s first ever Pride Parade.

At the time, president of the Nanaimo Pride Society Rick Myers said the city’s support of the parade and festivities was a great sign of the progress towards acceptance in the community.

O’Brien says police take actions like this very seriously.

“We view this as complete intolerance, it’s considered mischief under the Criminal Code. This type of activity is not accepted in our city and not appropriate.”

He says there are a number of cameras in the downtown core they will be reviewing and believe there’s some footage that may be helpful.

O’Brien says they will be contacting RCMP ‘E’ Division Hate Crime Team, but they are viewing it as mischief at this point, although it does express intolerance to a certain segment of society, he says.

One of the verses references ‘Lev. 18:22,23’, which contains references to, among other things, not having sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman.

Another part of the graffiti references ‘Romans 1:26,27’, a verse with reference to “men committing shameful acts with other men”.

The city’s Philip Cooper states via email the city is aware of the situation and is taking steps to clean it up.