In an act of vandalism with overtones of anti-LGBTQ+ hatred, a set of rainbow doors outside the Manhattan Beach Community Church was badly damaged on Tuesday night.

After viewing security tapes, Rev. Mike Spitters, senior minister of MBCC told MBNews, “The incident happened between 10:00 and 10:02 p.m. The young kids pulled up in what appears to be a black SUV. There were several boys.”

The church has sent its surveillance tapes to the police, added Spitters. 

Damage was so extensive to the doors that they needed to be cut up and thrown out. 

“Our church’s grounds crew of volunteers cleaned up the mess left by hate this morning. As soon as we can, we’ll have a new set of doors made,” said Spitters. 

Each door had been painted a different color of the rainbow, with a message painted across them: "God's doors are open to all." 

"We display the doors during Pride month in June, and in October for our annual Solidarity Sunday," said Spitters. "We will continue to display them because we think the message is so important, and we want to keep it out there."

"We don’t want to give in to those who don’t understand or, for some reason, are against a message of love and inclusion for all people,” he added.

Spitters told MB News that he had spoken to MBPD this morning, and will be discussing the issue with church leadership to ensure that a new set of doors will be produced. 

 

Manhattan Beach Police released the following statement to MBNews: 

“On July 3rd, 2024 at about 12:13 p.m., the Manhattan Beach Police Department responded to the Manhattan Beach Community Church regarding vandalism. Responding officers were told that an art installation consisting of six rainbow-painted doors with the words ‘God’s doors are open to all,’ were vandalized and destroyed between 5:00 p.m. yesterday and 8:00 a.m. today. This incident remains under investigation. The Manhattan Beach Police Department asks anyone who may have information about this crime to contact Detective Udeoji at (310) 802-5121.”