a historic announcement for the lgbtq plus Community just days into pride month the Human Rights Campaign is declaring a national state of emergency for lgbtq people in the U.S it's the first Declaration of its kind in the roughly 40 years the organization has existed citing an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-lgbtq laws while other attacks on the community have come in the form of vandalism or assault in Sussex County the burning of a pride flag ignited activism among locals who've launched the area's first ever advocacy group senior correspondent Joanna gagus reports we had two incidents about a little over a year ago and then a year and a half ago where the flag in front of the church the pride flag was was burned the pride flag was burned in front of the United Methodist Church in Sparta early last year after being trashed behind a dumpster about six months earlier but it was the burning that sparked fear in the hearts of the church's lgbtq members it was burned right off the flag pole and it was on the ground and we took it in and showed the pastor and everyone that day was just so concerned and outraged Sue Harris who was still relatively new to Sparta at the time channeled her feelings into advocacy it was the most violent Act of vandalism that the flag has experienced the sadness of it made us want to actually jump in and get this P flag chapter off the ground P flag is the longest running National organization dedicated to supporting lgbtq individuals and their families Harris felt there was a real need for this group in the very rural community of Sparta that Todd Gillespie describes as a very conservative County and so it's hard for people to know that there are other like-minded individuals around um and also that there are folks that can help provide information and support for them so again it's the importance of having the flag flying as a visible symbol and I think it's important to have P flag here as a community-based support group the P flag group launched in February and meets monthly to discuss concerns and topics that some might be afraid to talk openly about in other circles we're really there to give support to families you know and Friends of people who are in the lgbtq community there are a lot of people who who come who have you know feeling members who are just coming out as gay or transgender or you know however they identify and they just they have questions they want to know what's going on and it's a wonderful sign when they do show up because it means they want to try but the meeting comes at a time when fears over being lgbtq are hitting a fever pitch and not just in Sparta in fact this week the Human Rights Campaign declared a national state of emergency for the first time in its four decade existence saying in a statement the multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived they are real tangible and dangerous in many cases they're resulting in violence against lgbtq plus people that's why Pastor Stephen bechtold wants the community to know his church welcomes everyone to their monthly p-flag meetings we're a church that believes that we're here for all people and all means all and so we're um delighted that we're able to host events like this for all people that they will feel welcomed here that they will feel that this is a place that lives out its faith in a real and practical way and where one flag burned another flag now waves proudly in the Town Center a result of this group's latest advocacy efforts this kind of Pride showed up at some of the meetings uh some of the committee meetings and we were able to get it past the ordinance so now right now this week There's a rainbow flag in Sparta flying at the municipal building and we feel like that's that's a step of you know into progress one step in their very long race toward acceptance for NJ Spotlight news I'm Joanna Gagis [Music] [Music]