Q: Threats to the Bay Area LGBTQ + community have authorities on high alert

SAN LORENZO (KPIX) – Several high-profile incidents and threats against the LGBTQ + community in the Bay Area and across the country have law enforcement on high alert.

On Monday, a group of LGBTQ supporters gathered in front of the San Lorenzo library, two days after a group of men likely associated with the Proud Boys interrupted a drag queen storytelling event, shouting homophobic slurs.

In addition, over the weekend, more than 30 members of a white nationalist group were arrested on suspicion of planning to violently disrupt a pride event in Idaho.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said both attacks were likely coordinated online.

In San Francisco, state Senator Scott Wiener vowed to continue fighting for the LGBTQ community after his staff received a hateful email with a subject stating “he will die today”.

The threat said, in part, “The left keeps fondling children, we see drag queen events involving minors in explicit ways over and over again.” She also claimed: “We planted bombs in his office and in her house … we will kill you.”

“This growing rhetoric of politicians, of right-wing activists, has a consequence, words have consequences,” said Senator Wiener. “I am continually receiving death threats and they have intensified.”

No bombs were found in his home or office. But Wiener, a gay politician, says he has been targeted for years for his work on behalf of LGBTQ people and people with HIV.

“It is politics that is actually putting real human beings at risk, and it is simply tragic,” he added.

The latest incidents come as San Francisco celebrates Pride Month and two weeks before the first Pride Parade since 2019.

“We’ve always taken community safety very seriously, especially afterwards, as we’re celebrating 6 years after the Pulse tragedy, when we lost so many lives. And, you know, even before Pulse, and especially after Pulse, we always have we have been very vigilant when it comes to the safety of our community, ”said Carolyn Wysinger, president of the board of directors of San Francisco Pride.

San Francisco Pride said it is working closely with law enforcement during this year’s celebration.