A northern New York church bench painted in rainbow colors to show support for the gay and lesbian community has been damaged in an apparent arson fire.
The Rev. Laurena M. Wickham Will, the pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Ogdensburg, says local firefighters doused the flames around 3 a.m. Monday.
The bench was painted in rainbow colors and placed outside the church last week. Will says the bench represents the church's concept of welcoming all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Will says she believes the fire was set intentionally. Arson investigators are trying to determine how the fire started.
People in the community on the Canadian border have come out to show their support for the church. Will says a person has volunteered to pay for new materials to rebuild the bench.
