The Gay Straight Alliance at Texas Tech University isn't going to let a hateful act of theft and vandalism stop it from spreading its message of inclusivity, and the local community is lending a hand too.
On Monday morning, the GSA discovered that two rainbow flags and a flagpole had been stolen and destroyed from a cubicle space the organization uses at the university.
"Over the weekend, our two rainbow flags were stolen from the TTUGSA [cubicle] and a flag pole was broken," they wrote in a post on their Facebook page.
To help the GSA, Lubbock Pride -- the organization behind the annual Pride celebration in the city where Texas Tech University is based --started a GoFundMe page to raise money for replacement flags and to help the organization do good work.
"This act of stealing the flags is more than a harmless crime. Those criminals took with them our flag, the rainbow that represents our community, the flag that represents diversity, love and equality," says Lubbock Pride's fundraising page. "We ask that you please donate what you can to help. We are raising money for more than just new flags but in support of an organization that represents the voice of the LGBT community on the Tech campus for all those who are still too fearful to speak themselves."
At press time, more than $780 has been raised to help the Texas Tech GSA, nearly double the original goal of $400.
"There is nothing that we can say that could even begin to describe how blown away we are at the support we have received today! Our flags have been replaced and the fundraiser goal met, all within a few short hours," the GSA wrote again in another post on Facebook. "The support from the Lubbock and TTU communities is the source of our determination to continue to work to make TTU a safer, more inclusive university, even when others try to quiet us."
