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North Carolina: Harrased for a Year, Gay Couple Loses Home in Arson Fire

Posted by: Lez Get Real on February 6, 2011.

Melanie Nathan- Feb 06-2011-

Clayton, NC– Johnston County deputies are investigating an early Friday morning fire that destroyed a Clayton home and displaced a gay couple who lived there. WRAL reports that the couple had been victims of harassment for more than a year, including vandalism, tire slashing, a note with derogatory language left in the mailbox, an anti-gay slur was written on the house with marker and the tires of a car parked in the garage were slashed; the couple asked not to reveal their identity out of fear for their safety.

The couple was out of town when the fire was set according to a neighbor and investigators and returned to find their home completely gutted and all lost. The Red cross has put them up in a motel in the meantime.

Johnston County Sheriff, Steve Bizzell stated this fire does not appear to be related to a string of other suspicious fires in the area, and is being investigated as arson.

There are no suspects at this time. No other information has been released.

Neighbor in the subdivision said they believe this was a targeted anti-gay hate crime.

The Red Cross is supplying the victims with food, clothes and contacts for insurance.