When employees of The Center and Ritzy Rags arrived for work on Monday, Nov. 16, then got a nasty surprise. Over the weekend, vandals had spray-painted some hate messages on the front and back of both businesses.
They painted a swastika and the words “Gay Pawer” on the Center. Gay owned business Ritzy Rags was sprayedwith “Die Fags” “Go To Hell” and slurs. 
Micheal Vance, Center executive director, said the vandalism must have happened during the night on Nov. 15, because he was in the office earlier that day and didn’t see any graffiti. He estimates that the vandals caused $1,000 in damage, and there were apparently no witnesses to the crime.
Sergeant Barb Jones with Orlando said the officers who responded to the scene are currently classifying the crime as “criminal mischief – vandalism.” She if they find who did it and the motive is rooted in prejudice, then that would bump the offense up to a hate crime. Jones also said the officers canvassed the area and didn’t find any
leads, but they believe the same person painted all the messages.
“We feel this act is clearly homophobic and transphobic in nature. It is meant to invoke fear in our community,” said Vance.
He said this is the first act of vandalism in the three years he’s worked at The Center.
“We’ve had graffiti before, but this one is more,” he said. They’ve already begun to paint over the damage.
The hateful act is sparking some good. Local activists have begun a fund raising to purchase security cameras to be installed at The Center. Donations can be sent to:
The Center
946 N. Mills Ave
Orlando, 32803
ATTN Micheal Vance, designated for “security cameras.”
