Hate crime at The Book Man

We are a designated RCMP Safe Space at The Book Man. We proudly fly a Rainbow Flag outside of our business, and pride ourselves on being a welcoming, inclusive, safe space for our LGBTQ2+ staff, clients and community at large. We fundraise for, and are the official mailing address of the Chilliwack Pride Society.

Yesterday afternoon, a man approached our front door with speed because of our Rainbow Flag. Our staff member Renee met him at the front door to begin going through the steps of our Covid protocol to be able to welcome him into the store, but was met with a tirade of expletives, bigotry and homophobia. My husband Adam, who works at the bookstore overheard the ruckus, and swiftly made his way to the front of the store to relieve Renee and face this man.

The man told my husband that if he stepped outside of the bookstore he'd smash his f*ggot face in. He threatened to burn our Rainbow Flag, and what's more, to BURN DOWN OUR BUSINESS. He then SPAT at my husband.

We have opened a police file, and have asked for the public's help in identifying this man. THIS is why we need Policy J-10 and J-11 removed from the City of Chilliwack. These policies disallow the flying of Rainbow Flags, or the installation of Rainbow Crosswalks on civic property. By not sending a CLEAR message of inclusion and celebration of our LGBTQ2+ community, these individuals are emboldened by the silence of our leadership. We MUST do better as a city. It is my hope that our leadership will speak directly to this incident.

Hate crimes have no place in the City of Chilliwack.