26-05-2025
‘Very unsettling': Pride organizer's home vandalized twice, police investigating
The organizer of Wortley Pride was the victim of a home vandalization twice in the last month.
On Friday, Kathy Bell and her wife Denise woke up to their security camera notifying them that someone was on their property.
'By the time we went downstairs, our vehicle had already been vandalized with spray paint, and our tires had been slashed, and graffiti was written on our shed,' explained Bell.
They reported the incident to the police, who confirm they are investigating.
Kathy said the incident has left them feeling very violated.
Kathy Bell - vandalized car - London May 2025
Kathy Bell, Wortley Pride president and founder seen in London, Ont. on May 26, 2025. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London)
'I've been the president of (Wortley) Pride for four years, and it's just now that they found me, and I don't know how they found me and violating my home privacy, my sanctuary, is very unsettling,' continued Bell.
'Now, I'm afraid to open my front door in the morning because I don't know what I'm going to see.'
Bell said unfortunately this isn't the first time they've been targeted.
'On May 13, again in the middle of the night, we got up the next morning and saw the exact same thing.'
Kathy Bell - vandalized car - London May 2025
Kathy Bell's vehicle seen vandalized in London, Ont. (Source: Kathy Bell)
Both incidents have now cost the couple an estimated $5,000 in deductibles. As a result, Kathy's daughter decided to start a GoFundMe to help support her mother with some of the financial repairs.
'I started it with her permission just to get her community involved and letting them know this has happened. How much it's going to cost to do it not once, but twice, and just for them to rally around my mom and stepmom,' said Abby Whitesel, Kathy's daughter.
With Wortley Pride coming up June 14, Bell said there is concern around safety, but they are prepared.
'We've taken all the steps to make sure that we have things in place to keep everyone safe. So, we've hired police and undercover police and security, and everybody will be here to make sure that we're all safe,' said Bell.
Bell said with six days away from Pride month, she's hoping the community comes together.
'We need our allies in our community to stand up with us, because this is only going to escalate more unless we do something to stop them,' said Bell.
