A gay couple from Milton, Massachusetts, who was harassed via hate-filled messages for years by an anonymous person, were able to unravel the culprit after they recognized the handwriting of their abuser.
LeeMichael McLean and Bryan Furze were terrified when they began receiving anonymous hate. The couple had a newborn son and were getting involved in local government.
But with the help of someone in the community, they were able to uncover the unexpected aggressor.
You can see local news coverage here:
The timeline of events was shared on Twitter by Chris Evans, an online civil rights and LGBTQ+ activist.
A gay couple in Milton, MA received mag subscriptions with homophobic names sent to them for years, but weren't able to track down who it was because they don't require pre-payment. But their neighbors used election records to match handwriting to a bigot who lived 2 doors down.pic.twitter.com/83kPC5rKKR— chris evans (@chris evans) 1623813776
They'd received the magazines for many years but had no recourse other than to cancel the subscriptions. But eventually the harasser sent them the Boston Globe -- which they already had a subscription to -- so the Globe returned the order form which was handwritten.pic.twitter.com/QGUw642Vgv— chris evans (@chris evans) 1623813939
That's when they decided to post the order form on their Facebook, and a neighbor of theirs literally submitted a public records request for election papers to compare voter\u2019s signatures. When the neighbor thought they had a match, they gave it to police.— chris evans (@chris evans) 1623814118
The police confronted the suspect -- who lived 2 doors down from the gay couple being harassed. He immediately confessed and claimed he was motivated by their "outspokenness and opinions about Milton\u2019s politics and Milton\u2019s future."\n\nhttps://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/06/14/milton-gay-couple-harassment-fundraiser/\u00a0\u2026— chris evans (@chris evans) 1623814118
The couple, after receiving a match from their neighborhood helper via voter signatures, realized the culprit was their neighbor from two doors down. Theh often "had shared hellos, waves, and casual conversation" with the couple.
The harassment came in the form of magazine subscriptions with extremely homophobic names on them, such as "Michelle Fruitzey."
To go to all that trouble because someone doesn't want others to be able to love. This is so pathetic.— Anne Prenatt Green (@Anne Prenatt Green) 1623814008
We know the couple. It was so sad/scary. They wouldn\u2019t let their child get the mail because they were afraid as to how far it would escalate. They designed the shirts they are wearing as a fundraiser for a Gay/Straight Alliance in Milton to combat the homophobia.— Donny (@Donny) 1623843464
Bigotry is just so nonsensical. All of this didn't change their outspokenness, but it will change your criminal history status. Leave people alone!— Excessively BLACK! (@Excessively BLACK!) 1623816005
Why do people put so much energy into hate? The neighbor was obsessed with them and got caught.— Tim Scott, Private Citizen \ud83d\ude0e\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\ude43 (@Tim Scott, Private Citizen \ud83d\ude0e\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\ude43) 1623843742
The couple received several messages of support on social media. They started the hashtag "iammichellefruitzey" to gain attention for a cause close to their hearts—fundraising the Gender and Sexuality Alliance in Milton public schools.
"For us, this is not really about broadcasting the bad. It's about embracing the good and finding ways to blow it up into something bigger," said Bryan Furze.
What psycho harass people for years?? Can only imagine what other nonsense the neighbor was involved in.— Raveness2020 (@Raveness2020) 1623846075
That's a lot of work to bother humans who are just existing peacefully...— EWF & Ray Parker Jr Stan \ud83d\udc99 (@EWF & Ray Parker Jr Stan \ud83d\udc99) 1623851495
Someone needs a hobby. And an education in civility and ethics. I\u2019m sorry they endured and love that this is like an Encyclopedia Brown episode wrap.— trishinmn (@trishinmn) 1623846775
Milton is right next to Dorchester & when we venture into Milton, it always feels uncomfortable there. I'm not shocked some person would do this.— Lynn V (@Lynn V) 1623842949
Wow that\u2019s messed up. What a troubled neighbor.— Wishing i was 18 again... (@Wishing i was 18 again...) 1623833307
The harasser told police the motivation for the homophobic attacks was "outspokenness and [the couple's] opinions about Milton's politics and Milton's future," to which Furzy said:
"I have some doubts about that."
The community's reaction was so positive McLean said It "has helped us get through the realization that we had been affected by this so negatively."
The harassment has ceased and hopefully will forever.
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