Vandals smashed the glass storefront of Boy Next Door early Thursday morning and management of the men's fashion store believes it may be tied to an article published in Fenuxe, a local LGBT magazine. Boy Next Door caters to a gay clientele.
Raymond Dowis, general manager of the store located at 1447 Piedmont Ave., told Atlanta police today he believes the property damage totaling $1,000 is due to his store's advertisement in Fenuxe. The vandals struck at approximately 4:49 a.m. Thursday and shattered the glass of the front of the store.
Fenuxe published an article titled "Why can't we have nice things?" in its Oct. 4 Pride issue critical of the local gay bar scene. The art with the story was a waiter holding a silver platter with a pile of shit on it. The controversy was reported by Project Q Atlanta. Atlanta Pride was held Oct. 13-14 in Piedmont Park.
Several pieces of public art along the Atlanta BeltLine have been vandalized in recent weeks, including a multi-media piece funded by the Atlanta Pride Committee representing the queer community.