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A stolen Pride flag at the beginning of Pride month may seem like a downer, but in West St. Paul it’s turning into a movement to support the LGBTQ+ community. That one stolen flag has turned into more than 50 new Pride flags across the city, thanks to a fundraiser and several volunteers.
What happened: It started when Rob Wedewer’s Pride flag was stolen. He thought about replacing it with a bigger flag, but then had a better idea.
- “I figured why not replace my flag with as many flags as I can?” Wedewer told FOX 9.
- He started a fundraiser that’s brought in 140 donations totaling more than $4,000 in less than two weeks.
- A volunteer created an online flag request form, and so far 86 neighbors have asked for a flag.
- Others are stepping up to help source flags at a discount and deliver the flags and poles.
- So far 52 Pride flags have been delivered.
“I don’t really think about the person that stole the flag. I think about the response from the community and how they’ve stepped up and how so many people have sent so many words of encouragement about what’s going on here that I think that’s the most important part.”
Rob Wedewer on KARE11
Stolen Again
Last night Wedewer’s flag was stolen again. But it didn’t bother him as he just focused on all the new Pride flags across West St. Paul.
“No one should feel sorry for me. They should feel sorry for the person who is at a point in their life [where] this is who they have become,” Wedewer said in a Facebook comment. “Whatever the mission is of the person who is stealing my flags, they are failing. Miserably.”
Pride in West St. Paul
After all the flags are purchased, any leftover funds will be donated to West St. Paul Pride, a local group that organizes Pride events happening in July:
- Friday Night Skate Party: July 7 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Harmon Park.
- WSP Pride in the Park: July 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sports Complex.
“I think the world needs to know that you can’t bully a community as a whole and expect for people not to look at it,” Wendy Berry told FOX 9. Berry is the first openly LGBTQ+ City Council member in West St. Paul and one of the organizers of West St. Paul Pride. “It’s impactful and it hurts and people are going to rise above it and allies are going to rise up above it and really make people know they’re welcome here.”
Support: You can support West St. Paul Pride with donations, sponsorships, shopping, or volunteering.
City flag: Welcoming the LGBTQ+ community became an official act in 2019 when the City of West St. Paul officially recognized Pride month for the first time. In honor of the moment, the Women of West St. Paul community group donated a Pride flag to the city that flies over city hall during the month of June.
July 5, 2023 Update: Final Numbers
A final update as the Pride flag fundraiser comes to an end:
- 106 Pride flags distributed.
- Most went to West St. Paul, South St. Paul, St. Paul, Mendota Heights, and Inver Grove Heights, but some went as far away as St. Cloud and Sandstone.
- $4,359 total donated, with $1,475 left over and donated to West St. Paul Pride.
“I am so encouraged and humbled by the way this community came together and turned a negative into such a huge positive,” said Wedewer. “And please remember next weekend is the WSP Pride event.”
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