Last week, an anti-gay slur was spray painted on a campaign sign of Gainesville City Commission candidate Helen Warren.
The word “DYKE” was painted across both sides of a sign standing in the front yard of a supporter who lives along the 3000 block of Northwest First Avenue in the Black Acres neighborhood. The word was written in black paint on one side of the sign and yellow paint on the other.
Warren, who is a lesbian, said she and the other candidates in the at-large race have not made an issue of her sexuality on the campaign trail.
“I don’t walk into a room and say, ‘treat me well because I’m gay,’” Warren said. “I want you to treat me well because I’m a person and I deserve it.”
Warren said she felt the incident showed that there are those in the community who still feel hate toward gay people.
The homeowner whose sign was defaced filed a report with Gainesville police last Thursday. Police listed the incident as criminal mischief and increased patrols in the area.