Lauri Carleton lost her life defending a rainbow Pride flag
Lauri Carleton, 66, a SoCal clothing store owner, was shot and killed last month after an argument about a rainbow Pride flag hanging outside her business.
The suspected shooter, Travis Ikeguchi, 27, is also dead following a shootout with deputies.
Carleton owned and operated the Mag.Pi clothing store in Cedar Glen, an unincorporated community in the San Bernardino mountains roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center and Flags for Good unfurled a new commemorative banner last month honoring Carleton.
“Carleton, an unwavering ally, is one of too many people who have lost their lives due to violence that targets LGBTQ+ people,” the Center stated in a press release.
“To help honor her memory and encourage allies to be active in creating safe spaces, the Center collaborated with Flags for Good on a rainbow banner bearing the symbol of the magpie—after her store name—as a dedication to Carleton’s life and legacy. Proceeds from the purchase will benefit the Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+ Fund, a local organization that’s helping the local community thrive.
“Right-wing extremists have brought this fight to our doorstep, and let me promise you this: we are answering their knock at our door—and we will be greeting them with the strength that our community is known for,” said Joe Hollendoner, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
To submit an order for the Magpie Pride Flag, visit: flagsforgood.com/products/magpie-pride-flag.
