"Our 9-year-old son found the note (on our front door), and he was really upset.
"It's just sad, it's frustrating, it's gross," said Burch, who reported both notes to police. The note said "burn that gay flag" along with an anti-gay slur and derogatory language about HIV/AIDS. Last Wednesday, the building owner of Burch's rented downtown community space in the former Paradox Gift Shop location found a note taped to the door. The note taped to resident April Burch's front door wasn't the first anti-LGBTQ handwritten message she had received that week. UPDATE: Boone man charged with hate crimes in connection with anti-LGBTQ notes on residents' doorsįor subscribers: Anti-LGBTQ notes in Boone spark fear and call for 'allies to continue to speak up' against hate Wiebold said the notes were "alarming" and "inappropriate" but do not constitute direct threats. In a news release Sunday, police said the targeted homes "all had flags or door mats supporting LGBTQ (people)" and that the notes "spoke in opposition of this support only and were not threatening in nature." All of the handwritten messages, which said "burn that gay flag," were reported Saturday.īoone police have not publicly identified the suspect in the incidents, pending approval of an arrest warrant by the county attorney, Chief John Wiebold told the Ames Tribune. Wiebold said the notes are "certainly harassment" but declined to provide further information on charges police are seeking. The Boone Police Department is investigating four reports of anti-LGBTQ notes taped to residents' front doors. Watch Video: LGBTQ’s fight for civil rights, explainedĮditor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Becky Ritland is the executive director of Iowa Safe Schools.