LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Recent hate crimes have some LGBTQ community members on edge this weekend during Las Vegas PRIDE. Police and PRIDE organizers have stepped up their patrols.
"They've done the most to make sure we're safe," says Las Vegas PRIDE president, Brady McGill.
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Part of the increase in security is because of the new downtown venue. However, the recent hate crimes towards the LGBTQ community are in the back of everybody's minds.
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In June, the LGBTQ Center said somebody tried to set fire to this banner, displaying the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Then in September, surveillance video caught a man spray painting a homophobic slur to the Center's front entrance.
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Members of the LGBTQ community say these recent incidents show just how important Pride events still are.
"I think there's still a lot of fight left," says McGill. "The fight's not over for equality."
In a statement given to 13 Action News, a representative with the Center said in part, "although we have made progress in the 50 years since the Stonewall Riots, we still have much work to do."
Other members of the LGBTQ community agree, events like these are about being visible and raising awareness.
This weekend @PRIDELasVegas takes place at the @DLVEC. Here’s the line up. More: https://t.co/Bvr0XR22xW pic.twitter.com/UHS2SIE4ds
— KTNV Action News (@KTNV) October 10, 2019
"Events like this really show them that we're still here," says Trevor Harder, with GLSEN, what used to stand for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. "We're not going to go away because these hate crimes are happening."
