For almost three years, Kevin Harris has been living a peaceful life in his Hamilton home with his long-term partner.
Now, he says, “I’m scared for my safety and my partner’s safety” after their home and a truck were spray-painted with homophobic words.
Hamilton police are investigating it as a hate-motivated crime.
Harris said there have been other incidents that have left them feeling targeted.
On Sept. 10, the couple found their garbage and recycling scattered all over the front yard.
At first, Harris thought the mess was made by children and “part of city living.” He saw no need to report it.
A week later, someone spilled blue paint on their porch and down their walkway, and installed a metal cross on top of the walkway.
On Sept. 24, Harris was leaving for work and getting ready to say goodbye to his partner when he opened the door and discovered it was spray-painted all over with offensive language and homophobic slurs. His partner’s work truck also had offensive language on it, he said.
“They smashed the windshield, they took his gas tank and ripped the gas cap off and threw it in our neighbour’s yard,” Harris said.
The car of their neighbour, who they share a driveway with, was also damaged.
Couple says they’re suffering emotionally, financially
At first, Harris said, police were dismissive when he reported the blue-paint incident. But after going to the police station and, especially after the latest spray-painting damage, police have changed their attitude, he said.
Officers showed up to Harris’s house several hours later. He said he finally felt heard.
In a news release on Sept. 24, the Hamilton Police Service said it’s investigating a hate-motivated mischief case “that occurred to a residence in the downtown area earlier today,” and police “are asking area residents and businesses to review any surveillance footage for anything suspicious.”
Harris said police told him that the person who did the damage is “coming back and he’s going to come back faster and harder. I said, ‘Great. So now I’m scared,'” Harris said.
CBC Hamilton contacted police Wednesday morning and was told they had no updates to give on the case and are still investigating.
According to Harris, security camera footage appears to show the same person who poured the paint also spray-painted the truck and door.
Harris said neither he nor his partner has ever interacted or seen that person before.
“We’re not out there with the big [pride] flags — not that anybody couldn’t have that,” he said.
“It’s almost like a stalker.”
Harris said he’s suffering mental and financial consequences as a result of what they’ve been experiencing.
“I’m feeling extremely anxious,” he said. “I stayed up this morning till 4 a.m. watching the front of our house in the dark. I just stayed up. I can’t sleep.”
He said his partner, who works in construction, is no longer allowed to use a work truck because of the damage done to it.
Harris also took the week after the latest incident off work because he’s “scared to leave [the] house all day.”
“He has to be caught, otherwise we’re not going to sleep easy,” said Harris.
Ward 2 Coun. Cameron Kroetsch said events where community members are targeted are “deeply disturbing.”
“We should have no tolerance for this kind of hatred.”
Neighbours offer support
Harris said he’s not afraid of confronting someone, if that’s what it comes to.
“I’m gonna fight the fight because there’s somebody out there who might be alone and is vulnerable as a gay man and this happens to them, they’re devastated, right?” he said.
“We’re not afraid to fight.”
It helps, Harris said, that his neighbours have been supportive.
“The neighbours could not have been more wonderful. [Since] the morning, it was neighbours from across the street, superintendents from buildings saying, ‘We’ll help with whatever we can,’ ‘we’ll get our camera footage.’
“Our next-door neighbours … sent us gift cards and flowers, and were like, ‘We are beside you. This is not acceptable.'”
Kroetsch said he’s not surprised.
“I’ve seen that happen many, many times when there’s been issues in our city. Residents will come together. Gather. They’ll rally. They’ll protest. They’ll support one another in all kinds of ways that they can.”
Kroetsch added it’s important to show support in moments like this, when victims might feel alone.
“I want everyone out there to know that Hamilton is a safe place, Hamilton is a caring place and a compassionate place, and that we’ll get through these kinds of things together.”
