The annual season for celebration and greater visibility for the LGBTQ+ community, Pride Month, has been tainted by an alarming rise in hate crimes around the country. The most recent occurrence took place in Portland, Oregon.

A Portland bookstore's display of LGBTQ+ books was set on fire on the morning of June 24. The incident occurred at Dark Star Magick, an independent bookstore known for its inclusive selection and commitment to diversity.

Arson Targets LGBTQ+ Display

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on June 24, an individual broke the storefront window and ignited shelves containing LGBTQ+ books. Quick response from firefighters contained the fire, averting more extensive damage.

Store owner Steve Kinchen expressed gratitude that there were no injuries or fatalities considering the residential apartments above the store. Kinchen believed the suspect had a history of similar attacks on his store and others. The fire bureau confirmed the arson investigation regarding the incident.

In a Facebook post, Kinchen denounced the incident as a hate crime and expressed gratitude to the Portland community for its steadfast support. The store plans to recover from the incident and return to normal operations, possibly extending its closure by one additional day for cleanup.

The online store remains functional. Kinchen stressed the importance of the community's support and invited anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

READ ALSO: Growing Bans on LGBTQ+ Books Reflect Historical Suppression of Queer Literature

Rising Hate Crimes and Discrimination

Hate crimes against LGBT individuals have risen steadily in the last four years, according to the FBI. FBI statistics indicated that LGBT+ individuals are more often targeted in hate crimes compared to African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Muslims, or Jews.

Recent events have spurred calls for increased vigilance on safety. In Rochester, a man reported being targeted in a hate crime where a car allegedly pursued him, leading to a physical and verbal assault with homophobic slurs. The victim received hospital treatment. The perpetrator, Alexander Ortiz, 29, faces charges including reckless endangerment and third-degree assault as a hate crime offense.

In 2022, a shooting happened in an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs, killing five people and injuring 19 others. Federal prosecutors emphasized that the shooting was premeditated and motivated by bias. 

A high number of hate crimes was observed in states that have enacted laws restricting LGBTQ+ student rights and education. Restrictive laws reducing LGBTQ+ educational content have heightened students' susceptibility to bullying and harassment. Reports indicate a twofold increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes documented by local police in K-12 schools from 2015-2019 to 2021-2022.

The increasing call in the United States for book bans is creating more and more obstacles for gender-nonconforming library employees. Since the targeted novels frequently discuss ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation, the attacks feel more personal to them.

Emily Drabinski, president of the American Library Association and someone who identifies as gay, emphasized that attacks on LGBTQ+ books are also attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals. She expressed the personal difficulty and pain of seeing her identity weaponized against libraries and library workers - institutions she deeply cares about.

RELATED ARTICLE: LGBTQ+ Librarians Face Growing Hostility Amid National Book Censorship Campaigns