Rehoboth beachgoers allege discrimination against LGBT community
After a busy Memorial Day weekend the Rehoboth Beach Police Department and some neighbors are facing accusations that they were targeting the gay community.
Concerned emails began circulating throughout the community. One of them stating, “Rehoboth Beach was no-longer the gay friendly vacation destination that it once was.”
Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks says, “I’m kind of saddened that it’s come to that. These emails have been going out that it’s targeting a certain group. I’ve worked very hard, the city has, and the police department has to make sure everybody feels welcome.”
The emails allege that police were targeting the beach area around Queen Street, known for it’s large gay population.
Brian Hackney witnessed some of the commotion on the beach. He says, “There was drinking on the beach. They did appear to be giving citations out. They were only in this part of the beach.”
Other witnesses tell 47 ABC they saw the same thing, police only gathering in that area. However, police say they would not have been there if not responding to a complaint. The complaints started on Friday on New Castle Street. Police came to a house for a noise complaint, and following a couple of warnings, they later issued a violation.
Authorities say on Saturday afternoon there was an unrelated complaint on the beach, but the responding officer reported other violations.
Chief Banks continues, “Of course when he saw everybody urinating in the dunes, the shift commanders asked for more officers to come down. That’s why more came down there. This wasn’t something planned.”
Citations were given out for alcohol violations and public urination on the sand dunes and in Silver Lake. Police deny accusations of discrimination.
Steve Elkins is the executive director of CAMP Rehoboth, an LGBT community center serving southern Delaware. He’s been in contact with police since the emails started.
Elkins continues, “I have great faith that they would not do anything that was targeted toward the gay community.”
However, Elkins does see two problems with what happened. The first issue he has is with the noise complaints. He thinks residents are too quick to call police and they should realize that noise is part of living in a vacation destination. The second issue he has is with the resources at the southern end of the beach. He says there are basically no public restroom areas.
Elkins goes on, “What we’re working on with the city is the possibility of putting some Port O’ Potties down there. If they need to, they can be locked at night. CAMP Rehoboth is willing to raise the funds to do that if the city says that can’t afford to. There’s no excuse for not to doing it.”
As for when those portable restrooms could be up, Elkins says as soon as possible. He says he’s already begun making calls and there are at least three town commissioners on board.
