Penn. Man Says Family was Victim of Vandalism Because Daughter is Gay

A father from Pennsylvania says his family was the target of vandals because his daughter is openly gay, WPXI Channel 11 reports.

John Namey said he discovered a large swastika burned into the front lawn of his Sarver, Penn. home when he woke up Friday morning. Apparently, the vandals used chemicals to kill the grass and create the swastika.

"It's a hateful thing. There is no place for that in this world, but unfortunately some people thrive on putting others down," Namey told the news station.

He said this isn't the first attack his family suffered. Days before the swastika, Namey's stepson's truck was covered in pink paint and had an image of the middle finger glued in coins on the hood of his car. Additionally, the vandals slashed two of his tires.

"We have a 16-year-old daughter who is openly gay, and she has been targeted in school because of that," Namey said. He added that the people attacking his daughter are "ignorant and uneducated." He also told the Pittsburg Post-Gazette that his daughter is a "little more open with her sexuality" and that the swastika isn't going to "let that change who she is."

"Grow up. Let people be who they are. Don't judge people based on race or sexual orientation," he told WPXI. "Everybody is different. Just let people live their lives and be happy."

Local police are investigating the crime and FBI are also involved.

"Anytime anybody ever says 'hate crime,' we assess the situation because we take it very seriously," FBI spokeswoman Kelly Kochamba said, according to the Tribune-Review.