CHULA VISTA, Calif. — A house of worship in California was vandalized this past Sunday with Satanic graffiti, profanity and sexual vulgarity, and it is suspected that it might have been targeted because of vocal opposition to a “Drag Queen Storytime” event.
“We’ve stood up the last several weeks to share our concern regarding the upcoming drag queen story hour. We feel that maybe, perhaps, those two are connected,” Amado Huizar, who leads South Bay Pentecostal Church, told NBC7 News.
According to reports, the vandalism took place at approximately 3 a.m. Sunday morning as two men with backpacks were seen on surveillance footage exiting their vehicle. They are later captured walking back to the four-door sedan with what appears to be spray paint cans in their hands.
Hours later, Huizar received a phone call advising that the building had been hit.
“Sure enough, at every corner there were phrases, hateful words, and graffiti on the walls of our church,” he told KGTV, explaining that some of the messages are sexual in nature.
Huizar has filed a complaint with the Chula Vista Police Department and also met with Mayor Mary Salas to express his concerns about the drag queen event as he does not believe it should be held at a public library nor does he find it appropriate for children. She has defended the offering as simply “making the children feel comfortable about who they are.”
“If the people want to make that happen, do it at a private setting, at a book store or at a home, but not at the Chula Vista Public Library,” Huizar said. KGTV reports that Huizar wanted the event to either be canceled or moved to the upcoming pride festival.
The Satanic graffiti and vulgar sayings are currently covered under brown paper until a full investigation can be conducted.
The Drag Queen Storytime moved forward on Tuesday and was preceded by those who marched in support of the event. Those in attendance held signs and chanted slogans such as “Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Homophobia has got to go.”
Those who opposed the children’s storytime at the library likewise held signs, and one woman chanted, “Love the gays, not their ways.”
“I’m very sad,” Huizar said of the graffiti. “I’m heartbroken, but I am going to continue to speak.”
Police thus far have not been able to find evidence that the church was targeted because of its opposition to the event. South Bay Alliance, which presented the Drag Queen Storytime, outlined in a statement that it condemns the vandalism — if indeed it was committed because of Huizar’s stance.
“It has no place in any political dialogue. I sincerely hope it was not in response to their position on the storytime, but if it was, it is extremely inappropriate,” the group said.