2 minors steal, burn gay pride flag

Two minors admitted to stealing and burning a gay pride American flag that had been displayed in front of a local business, according to a Bloomington Police report.\nThe flag, called the New Glory and modeled after the American flag but with rainbow stripes, had been displayed in front of the Inner Chef, 105 N. College Ave.\nThe minors, both age 17, told police they took it and burned it because they felt it was not right to have a flag in any color besides red, white and blue and that it was "unpatriotic."\nDavid Wade, owner and general manager of the Inner Chef, said he wished the minors had spoken to him before stealing it.\n"If they had a problem, they should have come into the store and had a conversation with me," Wade said. "Stealing property is not the way to solve the issue or to make comments known. That to me is just plain silly." \nPolice responded Saturday afternoon when a witness reported seeing two people take the 3-by-5-foot flag and drive off. The witness snapped a photo of the car's license plate with a cell phone camera, which police used to track down one of the suspect's homes.\nThere, police met with both suspects who admitted stealing the flag and taking it to a friend's house, where they set it on fire.\nBoth minors were preliminarily charged with theft. Although the crime was not listed as a hate crime Tuesday, the Indiana General Assembly definition of one includes committing an offense that damages or affects property because of sexual orientation of the injured person or group.\nWade, whose business opened eight weeks ago, said the flag attracted a lot of customers and positive comments before its removal. \n"There is such a great diversity in this town of shoppers and people in general and a lot of people want to come in because of the flag," he said. "We're one of the only openly visible gay-owned and operated store fronts in Bloomington."\nWade, who found out Tuesday the flag had been burned, said the incident hasn't shaken his resolve. He promised the flag would return.\n"Definitely," he said. "I'll order (another one) today"