Laura Ann Carleton, a 66-year-old shopkeeper who owned a clothing store in Cedar Glen, California, was shot and killed after confronting a man who pulled down the rainbow Pride flag displayed outside her store. Carleton reportedly made disparaging remarks before opening fire with a handgun. He fled but was later shot dead by police. Carleton was regarded as an ally of the local LGBTQ+ community, even though she did not identify as such herself. Her death has sparked tributes from friends and activists who note rising incidents of violence and harassment targeting the LGBTQ+ community across the U.S. in recent months. Notably, over 350 such attacks have occurred from June 2022 to April 2023 alone according to recent reports.

  • Link.wav [he/him]
    link
    fedilink
    441 year ago

    I’m sure “no one could have seen this coming” from such an “upstanding citizen.”

    No one of course, except anyone who isn’t willing to gloss over someone’s bigoted beliefs about LGBTQIA people.