To the editor:

We are speaking up because last week a longtime Saranac Lake resident and transgender woman had her trans pride flag ripped off the side of her house, not for the first time.

It is important to remind everyone that people of all gender identities and expressions are holy, whole and loved just as they are. Acts of vandalization towards members of the LGBTQ-plus community are unacceptable in our North Country. What is behind all this hatred? Is it fear?

We would like to remind everyone that “you can be charged with criminal mischief if you intentionally damage someone’s property for no legitimate reason and without their permission. In New York State, criminal mischief is a class A misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 364 days in jail and a permanent criminal record.”

We will not stay silent in the face of hate and bias. We will stand up for all the members of our LGBTQ-plus community.

Transgender people have always been here in this community, and worldwide. They will always be here. We need to do better and create a safe space in which all people of all genders can thrive.

Signed by concerned friends and neighbors,

Abigail Newton, Saranac Lake

Alana Penny, Saranac Lake

Aleacia Landon, Saranac Lake

Alex Krach, Saranac Lake

Amy Catania, Saranac Lake

Andria Darby, Saranac Lake

Andy Anderson

Andy Sajor, Plattsburgh

Ann Munroe Mullen, Santa Clara

Annie Rochon, Plattsburgh

Arlene Morrissey, Plattsburgh

Becky Johnson, Keene Valley

Beth Glover, Saranac Lake

Betsey Thomas-Train, Keene Valley

Bob Andrews, Saranac Lake

Britt Sternberg, Saranac Lake

Caperton Tissot, Saranac Lake

Carly Terreberry, Saranac Lake

Chandler Ralph, Lake Placid

Chessie Monks Kelly, Saranac Lake

Chrissie Wais, Saranac Lake

Danielle King, Lake Placid

David Aldrich, Lake Placid

Debby Rice and Dan Mason, Keene

Echo, Saranac Lake

Elizabeth S. Hall and Pam Palumbo, Santa Clara

Erin Dorney, Saranac Lake

Flo Vincence, Saranac Lake

Francesca McClure, Saranac Lake

Gabrielle Hopkins-Betters

Gail Brill, Saranac Lake

Gemma Fielder, Saranac Lake

Jaime Collins, Saranac Lake

Jane Boxall, Lewis

Jane Haugh, Keene

Janet McFetridge, Champlain

Jenny Curtis, Paul Smiths

Jerilea Zempel, Keene Valley

Jess Ackerson, Saranac Lake

Jill Michalsky, Saranac Lake

Jo Ellen Miano, Plattsburgh

Joe Henderson, Saranac Lake

John Bingham, Essex

John L. Spear, Lake Placid

Jon Chatlos, Plattsburgh

Julia Goren, Saranac Lake

Karen Graff, Santa Clara

Karen Lewis, Saranac Lake

Kary Johnson, Adirondack Voters for Change

Katharine Preston, Essex

Kathy Bonavist, Saranac Lake

Kathy Daggett

Kathy Ford, Saranac Lake

Kathy Sajor, Plattsburgh

Katie Smith, Saranac Lake

Kelly Metzgar, Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance

Kim Irland, North Country resident

Kit Morgan, Saranac Lake

Kris Lutters, Plattsburgh

Krista Frei, Lake Placid

Lee and Nancy Keet, Saranac Lake

Lija Treibergs, Saranac Lake

Marissa Hernandez-Dupra, Sugar Bush

Martha Pritchard Spear, Lake Placid

Martha Swan, John Brown Lives!

Mary Ward, Plattsburgh

Matthew Keating, Saranac Lake

Meg Bernstein, Saranac Lake

Meg LeFevre Bobbin, Cadyville

Melinda Little, Saranac Lake

Melissa Kilts, Lake Placid

Michelle Bonati, Plattsburgh

Nancy Bernstein, Vermontville

Noel Carmichael, Lake Placid

Parmelee Tolkan, Lake Placid

Pete Nelson, Adirondack Diversity Initiative, Adirondack Wilderness Advocates

Rachel Karp, Saranac Lake

Rachelle Armstrong, Plattsburgh

Randi Renate, Rainbow Lake

Roger Catania, Saranac Lake

Saikat Chakraborty, Saranac Lake

Sandra Hildreth, Saranac Lake

Sarah Reynolds, Saranac Lake

Shamim Allen, Saranac Lake

Susan Friedmann, Lake Placid

Tammy Loewy, Keene

Tara Palen, Gabriels

The Rev. Ken Hitch, Lake Placid

Thomas Morrissey, Plattsburgh

Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Adirondack Diversity Initiative, Adirondack North Country Association

Tracey Henderson, Saranac Lake

Tyler Barton, Saranac Lake