Two non-profit groups are coming
together to repair a gay teen's home in Pace, Florida.
Jesse Jeffers, 18, returned to his
trailer home on February 3 to find it spray painted with swastikas
and anti-gay slurs.
The phrase “God don't love you,”
along with several derogatory words, were written near the front door
of his home. Inside, a large red swastika was painted on the
ceiling.
According to the Pensacola
News Journal, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office is
investigating the incident as a hate crime. Jeffers stated that he
does not have the money needed to restore his home.
Two groups, the Pensacola World
Changers and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), are
organizing a Saturday event to help repair the damage.
“There are few things that could make
you feel more violated than what Jesse suffered: Having your home
invaded and vandalized, especially when the motivation is hatred
toward your very identity,” Sara Latshaw, northwest Florida
regional organizer for the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. “No
one in our community should have to go through that. That's why this
diverse group of volunteers is coming together to support him. We
want to show that everyone deserves to be free from being abused for
who they are, and that this community will not stand for this kind of
hatred.”