More Than One Hundred Attend Vigil In Claremont California To Show Support After United Methodist Church Inclusive Nativity Scene Vandalized In What Police Call Hate Crime

An update on a previous post, The Daily Bulletin reports that in California, more than 100 people attended an interfaith vigil on Thursday night at Claremont United Methodist Church to show support for the lesbian, gay and transgender community. The vigil, which featured attendees singing along to songs like "We Shall Overcome" and candle lighting, was in response to vandalism to a contemporary Nativity display celebrating lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples. Claremont police officers have called the incident from this past weekend a hate crime. "We wanted to have an opportunity in response to the vandals," said the Reverend Sharon Rhodes-Wickett, who was among the speakers at the vigil along with the Reverend Dan Lewis. Rhodes-Wickett said she was "sorry people have to express themselves in destructive ways." She said the church has received positive and negative responses since theincident. "It's a very emotional issue for people," Rhodes-Wickett said. But "scripture says we're created in God's image ... sexuality is good." The damage at the church took place between 11:00 pm Saturday and 9:00 am Sunday on the southern part of the church lawn near Foothill Boulevard. Three wooden displays showed images of couples - a man and woman as well as two men and two women - each holding hands. The two displays of the same sex couples were knocked, but the box illustrating the straight couple was left alone. Kelsey Eiland, 17, who attends Claremont High School, said she attended the vigil to show support for "sexual equality and gay marriage," who added, "Initially, I was upset but not surprised." Former Mayor Ellen Taylor said the incident made her "quite concerned. It's a hateful incident." Taylor said the church was "very, very brave" for addressing the incident and the vigil made her hopeful. Church member Pete Serrano, 65, of Montclair said he and his partner had attended the church for 12 years. "Me and my partner attend the church and we feel welcome here. It was very disturbing," Serrano said. Police officers labelled the incident a hate crime because the display was on church property and the wooden box was knocked over. Artist John Zachary said his artwork suffered at least $3,000 worth of damage and added the exhibit's three panels weighed 600 pounds each.