“It broke my heart that someone would do this,” said Dianna Leppa when she learned that Pride Flags had been stolen from Downtown Burien this weekend.

As we previously reported (with video showing three suspected thieves), several Pride Flags were stolen in Downtown Burien early Saturday morning, June 8, starting at around 2:30 a.m.

So Leppa – a well-known local singer who has sung the National Anthem at many Seahawks, Mariners and Sonics games – along with her husband Rodney, reached out to Discover Burien to get new ones, then went on a mission to replace around 15 flags on Sunday morning, June 9, 2024.

Leppa rallied her mom, friends Ani O’Leary and Tyler Dowd, along with her family. With assistance from Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling, they collectively brought a renewed sense of pride and love back to the community.

“I wasn’t about to let them dampen the celebration,” she added. “I want people to know that Burien loves and supports everyone.”

Burien Pride continues downtown until 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2024 – read more here.

Local singer Dianna Leppa poses near one of the Pride Flags she helped replace on Sunday morning, June 9, 2024.
Tyler Dowd and Ani O’Leary, with Pat Dowd on the ladder.
Pat Dowd and his daughter Adele.
Pat Dowd and his daughter Adele.

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Video courtesy KING5:

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13 replies on “‘It broke my heart that someone would do this’ – local singer, friends replace Pride Flags in Downtown Burien Sunday morning”

  1. JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF MY DAUGHTER, DIANNA, AND SON-IN-LAW, RODNEY, FOR
    ‘STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE’ TO ERASE THIS UGLY PREJUDICE AND RAISE THE FLAGS!
    HOPING BURIEN POLICE WILL RECEIVE INFO. TO APPREHEND THOSE INVOLVED! I JUST
    CELEBRATED MY 89TH B’DAY AND HERE TO AFFIRM: PREJUDICE HAS NEVER, NEVER
    WORKED AND NEVER WILL!

    1. Well said, Junie. Glad that Dianna and Rodney were able to step up. Love you all.

  2. They get stolen every year. There has to be a better solution to keeping them secure than having to replace them every time thieves decide to be terrible people. Air tags are not expensive.

  3. There must be a business in the sta whose security camera picked up thr theft activity. Seems an easy process to find out who did this… IF Burien really cares.

  4. Correct me if wrong, but this happens every year now. The next logical solution would be to put them higher and fastened in some way that bigoted idiots can’t quickly get them down in the middle of the night. Great to see the effort to at least replace them for now.

  5. Is it possible that maybe the people in the community of Burien dont want to be represented in this way? Maybe after the 5th time they are taken down the city will get the message. The public square should be an inclusive space for ALL people. Not just a vocal few.

  6. Love the effort and sad that haters are gonna hate. Since this happens every year, why not try a new approach such as hanging a couple building-size versions on the facade of city hall and the library, fastened in place with those grommets they use to hang banners on museums and what not, and obviously high enough that a grown person can’t just jump up and pull it down. Maybe reserve the lamp post flags for the individual colors. Just a thought.

    1. Those people you call “haters” are part of the community as well. Inclusion means everyone. Not just a fringe group. Public spaces shouldnt be used for virtue signalling to minority special interest.

      1. Gay people are not “fringe.” They exist. For context, there are more gay people in this country than those with Italian ancestry. We live in a beautiful country where everyone should be celebrated, and no one should need to hide or pretend they don’t exist. It’s a sad, sad statement you’re making when a seeing a flag makes you feel poorly about yourself.

  7. The point of these flags *is* to include everyone, Luke Thomas. They’re saying that we are supporting and *including* *historically excluded* gay people. Is this difficult to understand?

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