NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The founder of the Southeastern Transgender Resource Center said it is a refuge and safe space for the transgender community, but seeing hateful words on the outside of its building was like “walking into hell.”

The center contacted Norfolk Police Monday to report vandalism on their building, police told 10 On Your Side. Officers took reports that the windows of the business had been spraypainted.

The founder of the resource center said the building is a safe place for the transgender community.

“We provide everything,” Tarena Williams said. We provide name change, gender markers, clothing, closets and food pantries. We [provide] transportation. … Everything is like an open, safe haven here.”

Williams said that Sunday or Monday morning, someone came by to write hateful messages on their safe haven.

“I opened up STRC, even the Lamina House,” she said. “I opened up that to get away from those types of words. This is a place you can come to get away from that, but to see that sprayed over the window. It’s kind of like you are walking into hell. … To be honest, I was like in shock.”

Anjeni’ Moore, LGBT Life Center Transgender resource coordinator, said the vandalism was disheartening.

Photo of vandalism outside the Southeastern Transgender Resource Center (Courtesy: Tarena Williams)

“Whoever left this message wanted us to feel like we were less than they wanted to,” Moore said. “So there were statements that say trans women are men and trans men are women, and non-binary doesn’t exist. They also said something to the fact that transgenderism is a mental delusion.”

Photo of vandalism outside the Southeastern Transgender Resource Center (Courtesy: Tarena Williams)
Photo of vandalism outside the Southeastern Transgender Resource Center (Courtesy: Tarena Williams)

Williams said the vandalism impacted the trans community.

“When I tell people what you did, it didn’t just affect me, because I have tough skin,” she said. “It affected the community,” she said.

Moore and Williams had this message to whoever did it.

“Allow us as trans persons to be who we are,” Moore said. “We’re just people. We get up and we go to work. We have valuable lives. We have families. We do everything that any other individual does. We are just people …”

“In Our Constitution of the United States, people are awarded the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If pursuing happiness for someone means living in their authentic truth, it allows someone to pursue that happiness. Our forefathers of this country made that possible.”

Said Williams: “For you to accept and live freely. You know, whatever you choose to live, the way you choose to live your life, that is your lifestyle. This is ours. Let us live peaceably, and you live yours. You know what you did with their hateful, and you will pay for it.”

Police said this is an active investigation. Norfolk Police ask anyone with information to contact the Norfolk Crime Line. Information leading to an arrest could result in cash rewards.