Rainbow street crossings in New Zealand have emerged as an unlikely flashpoint, with fundamentalist Christians throwing white paint over them to protest "Rainbow Storytime" readings.
On Monday, adherents to Destiny Church blocked traffic and painted over a crossing in Gisborne.
"The rainbow actually comes from God," Gisborne-based pastor Leighton Packer said in a video posted online, as fellow Destiny adherents painted over the road.
After the paint was washed away, five members of the group were arrested by police when they returned to the scene to try again.
On Thursday morning, residents of Auckland's Karangahape Road - the heart of New Zealand's gay nightlife - woke to find their crossing had also been painted over, albeit somewhat washed away in the rain.
Police have launched an investigation.
At the heart of the vandalisation is the travelling Rainbow Storytime production by two Taranaki-based drag queens, Erika and CoCo Flash, who hold events for young people in regional centres.
Previously, the Rainbow Storytime events were staged around the country in public libraries and venues, where kids were read stories, or older children lip-synced and danced to inclusive songs.
This year, Destiny Church have decided to protest the events, with councils in Rotorua and Hastings cancelling shows as they couldn't guarantee the safety of attendees or performers.
"We had every intention of standing up to this intimidation and going ahead, but unfortunately the potential for there to be possibly aggressive protests," Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said.
"There is no sexual content in these programmes, they are age appropriate, and designed to be entertaining and fun.
"It is the parents' choice whether their children attend, and the program takes place at an upstairs section of the library away from the general public library area."
Anti-LGBTQI groups such as Destiny's Church contend they are anti-family and sexualise children.
"Gays Control Councils, Cops and the Country! Kiwis have had enough … it's gone too far!" Destiny Church founder Brian Tamaki said online.
In Gisborne on Tuesday, at the insistence of Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz, the event went ahead at the public library.
A heavy police presence monitored a reported 100-strong turnout of protesters, chanting "leave our kids alone", while some counter-protested with rainbow flags.
Ms Stoltz said the group's actions "fuels hatred and division".
"We stand in solidarity with the rainbow community and strongly support the message of the rainbow crossing as well as the kaupapa (meaning mission in the Maori language) of the library event," she said.
"This kind of visibility of acceptance saves lives. We are very mindful of the struggle some of our young people face when there is no recognition for them as they explore their identities."
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon dismissed the actions in Gisborne as "a bit silly", but following the Auckland vandalisation, he made more fulsome criticism, calling it "unacceptable".
"We want to be embracing a rainbow community and we want everyone in New Zealand to be able to be who they want to be in this country and I've got no time for that at all," he said.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell also issued his "frustration" at having police officers stationed at crossings.
"The last thing I want to see is police officers having to deal with that sort of nonsense so whoever's doing it should stop it," he said.
As for Rainbow Storytime, it is now on hiatus, as Erika and Coco Flash "take some time to be at home and regroup".
"We have received an overwhelmingly huge amount of support messages," they wrote in a Facebook post.
"Things are real out there so keep that support going and try to avoid the ick! Shield yourself for a little bit."
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