Vandals steal, burn LGBT-pride flags outside church

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (AP) — A pair of rainbow flags has been stolen from a rural Orange County church about a week after a pair of similar banners were burned outside of the same church.

News outlets report that Hillsborough United Church of Christ reported the theft to the Orange County Sheriff's Office on Thursday and replaced the stolen flags with another new set.

The theft comes in the wake of church members finding the scorched remains of a pair of rainbow flags Saturday morning.

Rev. Jay Kennett says the banners were raised last month to support the LGBT community in the wake of House Bill 2, which prevents local and state governments from mandating protections for LGBT people in the private sector or at stores and restaurants.

Deputies are still investigating both the flag-burning and the theft.

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The Gayly - 4/15/2016 @ 10:21 p.m. CDT