STATEMENT FROM SARAH KATE ELLIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GLAAD ON THE KILLING OF LAURA ANN CARLETON

“Our hearts are broken for Laura Ann (Lauri) Carleton, her community, and her loved ones. The tragic, targeted killing of Lauri over the Pride flag displayed at her Lake Arrowhead store was senseless and, unfortunately, part of a growing number of attacks on LGBTQ people and our allies. GLAAD and the ADL have tracked more than 350 anti-LGBTQ threats and attacks this year, coinciding with a disturbing increase in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation across the country.

No one should feel unsafe or be attacked for who they are or for simply supporting the LGBTQ community. Lauri’s murder is the latest example of how anti-LGBTQ hatred hurts everyone, whether they are LGBTQ or not. We know a supermajority of Americans support LGBTQ people, and this horrific act of violence is not indicative of American values.”

Read more from Lauri’s local community and follow @lakearrowheadlgbtq on Instagram for forthcoming vigil information: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwHWIp_OGKM/

Read more on anti-LGBTQ attacks here: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-and-glaad-report-more-350-anti-lgbtq-hate-and-extremism-incidents

Read more about record support for LGBTQ people here: https://glaad.org/publications/accelerating-acceptance-2023/