TWISP — A Twisp barber whose business signs were spray-painted with anti-gay slurs says the experience left him feeling distraught and uneasy. James Stutheit even considered closing up shop and leaving town.
But after an outpouring of community response condemning the hate crime, he is now vowing to stay and fight intolerance.
Stutheit, 26, has lived in the Methow Valley for less than a year, and opened Mr. J’s Barber Shop in January.
He said he woke up March 24 with text and voice messages from a friend, telling him to get to his shop right away. During the night, someone had painted “fag” on his two sandwich board signs, and another derogatory term on the 10-foot-by-5-foot sign directing people to his new business, tucked in a building off the main road, next to the Twisp Commons Park.
The vandalism is classified as a hate crime, said Twisp Police Chief Paul Budrow. He said the same night, Stutheit and a friend were threatened in a bar — the only lead as to who may be responsible for the vandalism. No other hate crimes have been reported since he became police chief last year, he said.
Stutheit said he’s experienced the kind of verbal gay-bashing that happened at the bar that Friday night, when he was approached by someone who made it clear he didn’t like him because he is gay. “He didn’t want us in the bar. He said, ‘I’ve been just waiting for a chance to beat you guys up,’ ” Stutheit said.
But, he said, he’s never had anyone act on their threats.
He said after discovering the signs, he closed his business for four days and left town to be with his family.
He returned to a community coming to his defense.
Someone sent him flowers. An online community chatroom expressed outrage at the incident, generating an active discussion. And then last week, a letter to the editor signed by about 480 people with a message of tolerance appeared in the April 4 Methow Valley News.
“I was like, wow! Four hundred and eighty signatures is a lot for the Methow,” he said.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the Methow Valley School District from Carlton to Mazama has 5,230 people.
The letter, in part, says, “The act of hate, prejudice and anti-gay aggression is an affront to the Methow community we know and love — one that celebrates the diversity of its members and stands against intolerance and intimidation. We want James to know that the acts of these few individuals do not represent the valley, and that harassment, violence and hate are not tolerated here.”
Stutheit said he doesn’t know the vast majority of people who signed the letter, and is overwhelmed by the support.
“A police officer stopped by today just to check on me,” he said. “It puts me at ease to know the community is behind me.”
Stutheit said he grew up in rural Rathdrum, Idaho, and didn’t come out until he was 18 years old because of the prejudice in his small town.
But he thinks attitudes have changed, even in the short time he’s been an adult.
As for the malicious harassment — a Class C felony — he just doesn’t want it to happen again.
He said he plans to work with the local Gay Straight Alliance to further the discussion, and help educate others about homosexuality.
“We’re just like you. We’re human,” he said.
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