Campaign banner for Justice Horn is defaced with anti-gay slur

A Kansas City activist who is running for a seat on the Jackson County Legislature said on Twitter Sunday that one of his campaign banners was defaced with a homophobic slur.

Justice Horn, who lobbied the Kansas City Council to create the city’s first LGBTQ+ Commission, is seeking to be elected to represent the First District on the Legislature.

Horn said someone over the weekend spray-painted a slur on a large campaign banner on display in the 4600 block of Campbell Street.

“I’ll admit, this one hurt because like so many us of who experience this, this word is used to harm us. Either way, I’m not going to back down and I’m going to hold my head high,” Horn said in a tweet.

Horn could not be reached Monday for comment. He has said he plans to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. on Tuesday in front of the defaced campaign sign.

The county’s first district covers downtown Kansas City, portions of the urban core and some parts of south Kansas City within the county’s boundaries.

This is the first time Horn has sought elected office.

Horn has been a frequent and an outspoken supporter of a number of progressive causes including LGBTQ+ rights and local law enforcement accountability.

In 2020, Horn helped organized local demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, who was killed by Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer.

This story was originally published July 4, 2022 10:55 AM.

Glenn E. Rice is an investigative reporter who focuses on law enforcement and the legal system. He has been with The Star since 1988. In 2020 Rice helped investigate discrimination and structural racism that went unchecked for decades inside the Kansas City Fire Department.