Two gay married owners of the Fine Fellows Creamery ice cream shop in Cape May, New Jersey, say that they’ve been subject to vandalism and homophobic comments after displaying rainbow flags and stickers during Pride Month.
Dustin Piccolo and his husband David Kinsey say that the large and smaller rainbow flags they put up this year were torn down and stolen, as was a small rainbow flag sticker on their shop’s front door.
Piccolo told 6abc.com:
This year we celebrated pride month with more color, we added the flag where our open sign hung. We also put smaller flags in our window boxes among the American flags we always have out. Within days all pride flags were taken. People have been heard screaming (expletive) at us at night while we are open with customers and employees present. This week we come to open the shop and find once again our sticker flag torn off the window.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office told the 6abc.com that they’re investigating the incidents and take all instances of discrimination-based attacks seriously.
In a public Facebook post published after 6abc.com’s coverage, the business owners wrote:
We are beyond honored, humbled, and feel supported and uplifted by the amazing amount of warmth we have received since we alerted the community to the recent vandalism and homophobia we’ve experienced. Thank you for helping get the word out. Hate has no place in our town. Xoxoxo. Tonight Dustin talks about how you’ve helped us since these nasty events. We love our cape may family.
The ice cream shop has been open since 2015 and resembles a traditional soda fountain shop with a modern feel. It serves hand-crafted ice cream as well as artisanal gelato, unique seasonal sundaes and vegan options. Their tagline is, “Fill your bowl & your soul.”
An estimated 12,390 same-sex couples live in New Jersey.
