A Massachusetts church found itself at the center of a community conflict after a preschool operating on its property displayed Pride flags, which were subsequently removed by a church member. The incident led to the church being vandalized with pro-LGBTQ graffiti, prompting responses from both local community members and the church itself.

Pleasant Street Preschool, run by Mike Richmond and his partner Ryan Thompson, had been renting space at Grace Community Church in Marblehead. To commemorate Pride month, the couple placed Pride flags on the church property. A video posted online showed a church member removing the flags, stating that while the preschool could celebrate Pride, the church chose not to.

Richmond expressed his disappointment on social media, emphasizing his desire to represent peace, love, and acceptance. He clarified that he had not discussed Pride or its meaning with the preschool children, who simply found the flags visually appealing.

The church was later vandalized with graffiti including a rainbow, the phrase "Stay Gay, Stay Hard," and "Love is 4 everyone." Richmond reported the vandalism to the police, stating that he did not condone such actions. Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King confirmed the incident and assured the community that the perpetrators would be held accountable if identified. The Marblehead Pride Committee condemned the vandalism and offered to cover the cleanup costs.

Richmond also raised allegations of homophobia against the church, linking it to the termination of his lease, effective in August. He claimed the church had initially extended the lease until 2024 but that he decided to close the preschool early due to safety concerns. The church denied these allegations, stating that they were aware of Richmond's sexual orientation when they extended the lease and that the decision was not motivated by homophobia.

A protest subsequently took place outside the church, with attendees expressing their support for Richmond and the LGBTQ+ community. Grace Community Church released a statement outlining their perspective on the events, emphasizing their commitment to serving the community and respecting diverse viewpoints. They clarified that the preschool's lease was not terminated due to homophobia and that they strive to maintain a neutral stance on political and cultural matters.