Women ‘homophobic terrorism’ victims
Homophobic terrorism. That’s what Debbie Griffiths calls acts committed against her and her partner of eight years, Dawn Greer.
Griffiths says the two can’t leave their David Street home in Welland without homophobic slurs being thrown their way or being videotaped by a neighbour.
Beyond verbal harassment, Griffiths says there have been numerous physical incidents over the past five years or so.
“Someone scratched our car up, and then four days later it was keyed. Our five-foot-deep pond was drained, killing about $800 worth of koi fish, and in January two masked men came to our door. My son’s bicycle tires and mine were punctured. One neighbour swung a sledgehammer at Dawn. So much has happened.”
The most recent incident took place on Monday, Aug. 28, when the pair woke and found the words “Die Dikes” (sic) written across a garage door.
“There was a gate placed up against the garage, almost like whoever did it wanted to hide it or for us to uncover it … I’m unsure,” says Griffiths, adding Niagara Regional Police were called.
She says, to her, the slur on the garage was a death threat.
“Homophobic terrorism is what I call it.”
Police say they are aware of the current situation and are closely monitoring it.
Griffiths says it’s not the first time the pair have faced homophobia.
They lived in rural St. Catharines and found themselves forced to move after harassment there as well. Griffiths’ autistic son also faced harassment at the St. Catharines residence.
When they moved to Welland, Griffiths says at first people were nice to them.
“The first couple of years were fine until they found out we were gay. Then they turned on us, they said Welland was a dyke-free zone and that they didn’t want us here.”
It’s not the whole street that calls out at them if they go for a walk or come outside, says Griffiths.
“(They) have said they are not going to stop …. they say they’ll run us out of here by winter,” says Greer, who has had to quit two jobs in the past year-and-ahalf because of stress and anxiety over the incidents.
Greer, a social worker, is considering adding more cameras to the property to try and catch people responsible for the acts committed against them. But, one camera the couple had installed on their garage was already stolen.
“It’s pretty hard to live under surveillance because we’re already under siege, and every- one loves their privacy. But when you feel your home and safety is at risk, you have to do what you have to do to keep your family safe.”
Greer, who came out 25 years ago, says she’s spent nights outside the home, sitting with a baseball bat to protect herself, Griffiths, Griffiths’ son and their home.
“I sleep maybe three or four hours a night. We’re all suffering,” says Greer.
Griffiths says all of the incidents over the years have weighed on her.
“It’s caused me a lot of anxiety and depression … I feel like a prisoner in my own home.”
She’s worried about what will happen next and doesn’t think Welland residents are aware of what’s going on in their city.
“Will it take us to get hurt before someone takes a stand?” Griffiths asks.
Last year, the two contacted Welland MPP Cindy Forster’s office to see if she could help.
Karrie Porter, who was working for Forster at the time, says the MPP’s office tried to help through the court system
Porter was one of nearly 30 people who attended a peaceful protest at the couple’s home Tuesday evening.
“Sometimes when people get bullied and things happen under the radar, it’s hard to catch people and prosecute them. It doesn’t mean nothing is happening … there’s still bullying, harassment and violence,” says Porter.
In her former position with Forster’s office, Porter says she saw similar things happening to others all the time.
“I have this perspective where I feel there is a with homophobia, transphobia, and racism in Niagara. We need to do something about it.”
She says events such as the peaceful protest on David Street let bullies know they can’t continue to harass people and it lets people like Greer and Griffiths know there is community support.
Christine Snider says she encouraged Greer and Griffiths to make a Facebook event that people would come out to and show support for them.
Snider was hopeful more people would attend the protest as it went on Tuesday night.
“I think this is a good start … this is important,” Snider says.
Griffiths says the couple wants Welland to be a hate-free zone, where homophobia and racism were not acceptable.
“We all bleed the same colour, we all feel the same feelings … what makes us different? Something needs to change. Whether someone is gay, straight, black, brown … no matter what, we all deserve love. If you can’t accept who we are, that’s your problem. Don’t make someone else’s life hell because you can’t deal with it,” she says.