Doylestown shop’s pride flag torn down by man saying, ‘No gay people’

Days after a pride flag was ripped down from the porch of Evolution Candy, the shop’s owners said they’ll replace and continue to display what they call “a symbol that everyone’s welcome.”

On Dec. 6, a man was caught on camera walking down Printer’s Alley in Doylestown, singing to himself as he approached the store, tearing the flag off the zip-ties that secured it to the porch’s overhang and saying, “This s— right here, unacceptable.”

Off camera, two boys could be heard confronting the man, as he walked away telling them to call the cops and shouting, “No gay people.”

The incident isn’t the first time the shop has been targeted for displaying symbols of pride, support and inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community. Evolution Candy had their pride flags stolen over three separate occasions in 2023.

Each time, co-owner James Lamb said that they immediately replaced them, and that this most recent offense won’t be handled any differently.

“Any time something like this happens, we automatically put another flag right back up,” he said, adding that a police report was filed. “It’s just a symbol that everyone’s welcome here and it’s an inclusive town. So, we’re always going to put another one back up.”

Members of the Central Bucks Regional Police have not yet commented on the incident.