After Gay Couple’s House Was Vandalized, Their Entire Neighborhood Put Up Pride Flags
“It just happened so quickly—the whole neighborhood said, ‘Get me a flag. Get me a flag.'" From: NewNowNext Massachusetts is considered one of the most gay-friendly states in the union, but when Lauri and Cari Ryding returned from vacation last week they discovered someone had stolen the Pride flag from their house in Natick and and pelted their home with eggs. The couple had hoisted the rainbow banner after the Pulse nightclub shooting, so seeing such hatred on their front door was heartbreaking. “It was our first experience in Natick of having any type of prejudice,” Cari told the Boston Globe . “We hadn’t experienced it all, and it kind of broke open our little cocoon.” But then something wonderful happened: One by one, their neighbors put up rainbow flags in front of their houses. “It just happened so quickly—the whole neighborhood said, ‘Get me a flag. Get me a flag. Get me a flag,’ ” explained neighbor Penni Rochwerger. “If we can stop whatever hate is out there, I thi...