Justice Horn, a former NCAA wrestler turned Kansas City politician, was devastated to learn his banners had been targeted by vandals who sprayed the F slur across his photo.
Horn is running for a seat on the Jackson County Legislature, and said he is determined to continue with his “head high”.
He said that he “learned that my campaign banner was defaced with a homophobic slur” in a tweet on Monday (July 4).
“I’ll admit, this one hurt because like so many of us who experience this, this word is used to harm us,” he said.
“Either way, I’m not going to back down and I’m holding my head high.”
Today I learned that my campaign banner was defaced with a homophobic slur here in Kansas City.
I’ll admit, this one hurt because like so many us of who experience this, this word is used to harm us. Either way, I’m not going to back down and I’m going to hold my head high. pic.twitter.com/6geqENOFro
— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) July 3, 2022
“I don’t know how much more blatantly that this was a hate crime,” Horn told The Kansas City Star on Monday (4 July).
The banner was vandalised on the 4600 block of Campbell Street.
Horn planned a press conference conference for Tuesday (5 July) at the site of the defaced banner, inviting the community and “especially LGBTQ+ folks to come out and stand with me against this hate”.
But, prior to the conference, he had discovered his banner was “ripped off and stolen”.
He tweeted: “This isn’t Kansas City, and we’re going to prove whoever did this wrong!”
This Tuesday, July 5th at 9 AM, I plan to have a press conference at the sight of the defaced banner at 4644 Campbell St. Kansas City, MO 64110 to address any concerns or questions.
I invite the community, especially LGBTQ+ folks to come out and stand with me against this hate. pic.twitter.com/zqUyvUapr5
— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) July 3, 2022
Despite the provocation, Horn wasn’t demoralised.
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not backing down,” he said.
Following the incident, he attended a “We Are Not Free” march, he explained on Twitter.
“This morning, I laid in bed not wanting to get out because of what happened yesterday, but you all empowered me to get back in the fight with your comments, messages, and support,” he wrote.
Talking to The Kansas City Star, Horn added: “It’s a big eye-opener to what it’s like running openly as a queer person. This stuff is hard and we’re gonna face push back from folks who don’t change.”