$40K Later, 'Relentlessly Gay' Yard Unchanged

The Baltimore County woman who raised more than $43,000 to festoon her home with rainbows after she said a neighbor wrote a threatening note about her “relentlessly gay” yard does not appear to have purchased more decorations.

Patch visited the property in Overlea, a neighborhood north of Baltimore, this week, and the sleepy home at the corner of Kenwood and Fullerton avenues was not any more rainbow-filled than it was a month ago.

Homeowner Julie Baker started seeking donations June 16 through GoFundMe as a way “to make my home even more ‘relentlessly gay,’” after she said her neighbor posted a note on her property criticizing her choice in rainbow decorations, asking that she “tone it down” or “I will be forced to call the police on you!”

The Baltimore County Police Department is currently investigating the situation.

Related: Woman Responds to Neighbor Complaint of ‘Relentlessly Gay’ Yard

The campaign received widespread attention, with news outlets from the Daily Mail to TIME magazine covering it.

Last month, Snopes reported that there were discrepancies after Baker told a Snopes writer that she had spoken with police about the letter she received and authorities were “satisfied,” while police told Snopes that Baker was unreachable and had not produced the note in question.

On her GoFundMe page, Baker said in late June that she was not touching the money due to questions about the campaign’s legitimacy.

“...I want to work to remove any doubt about the authenticity of the letter,” Baker wrote. “Until then I am not taking a dime out of this account.”

Patch visited the home in an attempt to reach out to Baker and has contacted her via email; she has not responded to requests for comment.

Cpl. John Wachter of the Baltimore County Police Department told Patch Thursday, July 23, that police have obtained the note that started the campaign, and the case is under investigation.

“The case, which is classified as [a] suspicious condition, remains [open] while detectives investigate what happened,” Wachter said.

He did not have information as to whether there had been an ongoing issue at the residence. Baker had said she was threatened years before by an anonymous neighbor as well.

As of July 23, she has raised $43,391, according to GoFundMe.

Regardless of those she called “naysayers” and “grumpy pants,” Baker wrote on GoFundMe that she remained hopeful.

“I am so awed by the unity that has happened because of a really absurd note,” Baker wrote on GoFundMe. “Please carry on with flooding the world with rainbows and joy, be relentlessly generous, be relentlessly compassionate, be relentlessly vibrant and stay relentlessly gay.”

Pictured, the home where Baltimore County resident Julie Baker said she received a note about her rainbow decorations in Overlea. The final photo, with two stacked images, shows the property shortly after the fundraiser began in June. All others were taken July 16. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Janney.