A same-sex couple in Kingston is the subject of a hate crime after they received two threatening letters on Wednesday at their home near McBurney Park, urging them to move out of town or face physical violence.
Susan Belyea and Karen Dubinsky, who couldn’t be reached for immediate comment, received the letter from “a small but dedicated group of Kingston residents devoted to removing the scourge of homosexuality in our city.”
Some of the group’s younger members would “have fun chasing ‘lesbos,’” the second letter stated. “We have brought them BB guns and today they are going to target practice, so they can hunt you down.”
On May 31, anti-gay posters were plastered around Confederation Basin downtown prior to the city’s flag raising ceremony, which marked the beginning of Pride Month in the city. She said city workers removed them before commencing the ceremony, and Kingston Police officers were present for security purposes.
Kinder also said another same-sex couple in Kingston reached out to her and told her they had also received similar letters a few years ago, adding that the HARS office, located at 844a Princess Street, was also shot at by a BB gun recently.
“Other people’s license plates have been removed and dented and tossed aside,” she added. “This year during Pride Parade there was also a woman who basically parked to prevent the parade from moving any further, and when the police asked her to move she refused.”
However, she was unable to confirm whether these incidents were connected to the latest hate letters.
“I don’t know whether it’s someone new who has moved into the area and it’s just one person or if there is a group forming as they say in their letter,” Kinder added. “It actually boggles my mind.”
Kingston Police said they “are aware of,” the letters and a report has been assigned to major crime's Const. Chris Gobeil.
Hate letters threaten gay couple | Local | News | The Kingston Whig-Standard
Susan Belyea and Karen Dubinsky, who couldn’t be reached for immediate comment, received the letter from “a small but dedicated group of Kingston residents devoted to removing the scourge of homosexuality in our city.”
Some of the group’s younger members would “have fun chasing ‘lesbos,’” the second letter stated. “We have brought them BB guns and today they are going to target practice, so they can hunt you down.”
On May 31, anti-gay posters were plastered around Confederation Basin downtown prior to the city’s flag raising ceremony, which marked the beginning of Pride Month in the city. She said city workers removed them before commencing the ceremony, and Kingston Police officers were present for security purposes.
Kinder also said another same-sex couple in Kingston reached out to her and told her they had also received similar letters a few years ago, adding that the HARS office, located at 844a Princess Street, was also shot at by a BB gun recently.
“Other people’s license plates have been removed and dented and tossed aside,” she added. “This year during Pride Parade there was also a woman who basically parked to prevent the parade from moving any further, and when the police asked her to move she refused.”
However, she was unable to confirm whether these incidents were connected to the latest hate letters.
“I don’t know whether it’s someone new who has moved into the area and it’s just one person or if there is a group forming as they say in their letter,” Kinder added. “It actually boggles my mind.”
Kingston Police said they “are aware of,” the letters and a report has been assigned to major crime's Const. Chris Gobeil.
Hate letters threaten gay couple | Local | News | The Kingston Whig-Standard
