Leaders of a Northern Virginia congregation say their rainbow pride flag was snatched off their property. News4’s Shomari Stone reports.
A rainbow flag outside a church in Fairfax County is missing for the third time in three months, the church said.
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston said in a statement the eleven-foot-flag was stolen on Tuesday evening, one week after the church co-sponsored Reston Pride.
“We are deeply saddened that some person or persons have chosen to steal our flag and hope that it will be returned to us,” Rev. Dr. Debra W. Haffner said.
The rainbow flag was placed on the top of a hill on Wiehle Avenue two years ago as a symbol of support for the LGBTQ+ community, the church said.
The flag is the only freestanding rainbow flag in Reston, Virginia that flies year-round, according to the statement.
Haffner said the church will continue to fly a rainbow flag on their property even if it means buying a new one every month. Haffner said the church will buy flags for any faith community that requests it.
“We hope that other churches, synagogues and mosques will put a rainbow flag on their property, so that all will know that people of every faith in Reston support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community,” Haffner said.
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Police are looking into who might have torn down the flagpole and removed the flag.
