A woman in Johnson City, Tennessee has discovered a dead cow on her property in what appears to be a homophobic threat.
Gaelyn Porter says she could hear voices in her backyard followed by a diesel truck speeding off early on Monday morning but thought nothing of it.
When she awoke a few hours later, she found that the carcass of a dead cow had been dumped on her front lawn.
The vandals also left nails all over her garden, driving one into the front tyre of her car.
Porter believes she was threatened because she flies a number of rainbow flags on her property, in support of the LGBT+ community.
“I refuse to let something like this make me live in fear,” says Porter. “I’m not going to take my flags down. In fact, I’m going to put up more, and I hope everyone else does, too.
Gaelyn Porter is encouraging friends and supporters to buy rainbow flags from the local pride organisation. Source: Facebook
“I don’t know what motivation they would have for doing something like this. No one here has any enemies. Why would they be so hateful?”
The local pride organisation in Johnson City has started distributing rainbow flags in solidarity, with proceeds benefiting the Human Rights Campaign.
Porter has rallied friends and supporters on her Facebook page, encouraging them to fly their rainbow flags proudly.
“The Tree streets are gonna look like a bag of skittles blew up on it. Taste the rainbow Haters. We stand together to support all people. Love is love. We are all human beings no matter who we love or what colour we are."
