Despite weekend vandalism, Bellingham store “not backing down from what we know is right”
A Bellingham store, whose owner and staff have been the target of repeated harassment and false portrayal in national right-wing media, is seeing a flood of donations and moral support after vandals damaged its storefront over the weekend.
A Venmo account had raised more than $15,000 by Monday evening, Aug. 8, said Jenn Mason, owner of Wink Wink Boutique, the “not creepy” sex shop located in downtown Bellingham and one of several storefronts that wrap around the Commercial Street Parking Garage.
Another fundraiser on the GoFundMe website had received nearly $5,000 in donations by Tuesday morning, Aug. 9.
“If people were trying to change our minds about what we do, they have failed,” Mason told The Bellingham Herald in an interview.
“We’re not backing down from what we know is right. We’ll continue to serve our community,” she said.
Meanwhile, a protest against Wink Wink’s series of sex education classes for youth appears to be moving ahead as planned for Wednesday, Aug. 10, even though the “Uncringe Academy” classes have been moved to an undisclosed location to protect the students whose parents have enrolled them in the course.
“We’re not letting bullies prevent us from offering the education our community has asked for,” Mason said.
A group of five young men shattered several windows at Wink Wink with rocks at approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, an attack captured on the store’s interior video cameras.
Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood condemned the incident in a statement emailed to The Herald.
“This business promotes an enlightened view on sexuality that is healthy, informed and inclusive, and is not judgmental, narrow-minded or shaming,” Fleetwood said.
“They are helping us all out, not hurting us. We are actively investigating the damage caused to this business, and when we catch whoever is responsible they will be prosecuted. It is absolutely unacceptable behavior that will not be tolerated,” he said.
Police are studying video of the incident from Wink Wink’s cameras and those at other businesses in the downtown core, said Lt. Chad Cristelli, Bellingham Police Department spokesman.
Damages are still being determined, but “it will not be cheap” to replace the windows even with insurance, Mason said.
Cristelli said the crime is being investigated as first-degree malicious mischief, which is a Class B felony under state law and punishable by up to 10 years in prison and hefty fines.
Even though the store at 1302 Commercial St. remains closed indefinitely, its employees are being paid and merchandise orders can be made online.
An artist planned to paint a mural to decorate the plywood that city of Bellingham workers used to cover the shattered windows.
In addition, Wink Wink plans to have the stones used by the vandals painted and then auctioned as a fundraiser for Whatcom Youth Pride, an annual series of events sponsored by Bellingham Public Schools, where Mason is an elected member of the board of education.
“We’re hoping to turn something that’s so violent into something beautiful and give back to our community,” Mason said.
Bellingham City Councilwoman Hollie Huthman, who owns the Shakedown nightclub, is planning a “Riot Grrl” event to help Wink Wink at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21.
“It’s shocking to see the violence directed toward them because of their values, but it’s incredibly heartening and not at all surprising to see the way the community is coming together,” Huthman told The Herald.
Similarly, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership is brainstorming about how to support Wink WInk, said Jenny Hagemann, spokeswoman for the business group that sponsors Downtown Sounds, monthly art walks, and other events.
“We do not stand for this violence and vandalism. We don’t hide that (Wink Wink) is a sex shop. In fact, we celebrate it,” Hagemann said.
For several years, Downtown Bellingham has promoted its #BKind campaign in the face of racist and antisemitic attacks against local businesses.
“It’s meant to be an equitable and inclusive and an anti-hate message,” Hagemann said.
This story was originally published August 9, 2022 at 12:19 PM.
