Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that Marcus McGregor and John Parise of Athens filed a police report after a person or persons came onto their County Route 49 property on Aug. 7 or 8 and ripped all of their Pride flags from the fence. McGregor said, “These flags represent every person that is not seen or scared to come out or be themselves. These flags represent more than just the flags that people see.... To others, when they see them, they feel that they can breathe and feel safe, and I will always stand with those who feel that way.” Marya Warshaw, co-organizer of the group Athens Pride, said, “This is a vile and criminal act of homophobia and we call on all our fellow Queers, neighbors, friends and allies in the village and town of Athens to put out your Pride flags, your yard signs, to make clear that this hateful action will not stand here.” State Police are investigating, and McGregor has camera footage of two unidentified men walking across their yard the night the flags were torn down. McGregor said, "Now I know I need to be more visible about who I am. It’s important to those of you out there with your Pride flags―wave them high and keep them up all summer long or all year, they can never stop us.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.