An employee on duty at a Singapore food stall where an enraged man threw a pride flag said today that she was traumatized by the incident.
The employee, who asked to be identified only as Xiuling, told Coconuts today that she was at the Smol health food stall at Lau Pa Sat where a man, apparently furious over its recognition of LGBT pride, erupted at her and another employee in an incident now under police investigation.
“I felt a little sad how not everyone wanna live in an harmony, as it is already 2021 now,” Xiuling, who cannot hear, typed her reply to a reporter’s question. “After [the] incident, i admit i was traumatised as its my first time encountering such a happening but i never regret respecting and supporting the community!”
Read: Singaporean man triggered by small colorful flag hurls ‘homophobic abuse’ (Video)
Xiuling added that she has been heartened by the outpouring of public support.
“Now seeing how much loves and supports we have received, made me so happy,” she added.
She was preparing food behind the counter on Monday when the man confronted them over the small rainbow flag on display. After visibly berating them, he picks up the flag and throws it over the counter before storming off.
He has yet to be publicly identified.
One of those customers who visited the eatery Tuesday to show his support said he was glad that Xiuling was unable to hear the abuse thrown at her – along with the small colorful flag.
“I was very, very annoyed and upset,” customer Gene Gerard, 46, told Coconuts. “His actions were uncalled for, and he was extremely rude to the staff of a stall that he was not even patronizing. Such unacceptable and shameful behavior. But obviously, the flag was a very powerful symbol to him!”
Smol’s owner has not responded to messages seeking comment. Identified only as Charmaine online, she announced last night that a complaint had been filed with the police. She thanked the public for its overwhelming support, saying they had sold out of health food bowls yesterday.
“Our Lau Pa Sat outlet sold out early today, and I am so glad to have met many of you in person. I am sorry we were not able to chat longer, but I do hope to see all of you again in future!” she wrote, a day after surveillance footage of the shocking incident went viral online, spawning the hashtag #justiceforSMOL from LGBT groups like Pink Dot Singapore, Prout App, Young OUT Here, Heckin’ Unicorn and Dear Straight People.
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