A woman who made startlingly graphic and homophobic comments during an anti-discrimination legislative hearing in Lincoln Nebraska, the video of which went viral within days, has been described as ‘having mental health problems’ and being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Among the statements that were made by Jane Svoboda during the hearing, the following drew most attention on YouTube and the blogosphere:

“P- E- N- I- S goes into the anus to rupture intestines. The more a man does this the more he’ll be a fatality or a homicider [sic].” “A huge percent of gay men in school grounds molest boys, mainly because they don’t have AIDS yet.” “Hillary Clinton’s roommate four years in college was a gay woman. To avoid going gay like Clinton did, college students need single rooms and single gender dorms… A college woman is seduced with illegal Rohypnol to go gay.” “Candida fungus grows hugely on a corpse. AIDS is a candida fungus disease.” “Roman senators went to Roman baths to be promiscuous gays, bis, and orgiers [sic] then went to the Coliseum to watch Christians get mauled and perish. Do gays become this sadistic? Yes. They cuss after coupling, don’t like the land they lay on, and 80% of those that did treason by the year 2000 are gays.” “Read the book Nijinsky to understand that bisexuals always become insane.” “Jesus was kissed by Judas, a homo, who tried to sabotage Jesus’ kind ideas. Do you choose Jesus, a celibate, or Judas, a homo? You have to choose!”

However, in an interview with Journal Star, her family has said she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her comments should not be taken literally. She is taken care of by her brother, Patrick Svoboda, and according to court documents, she lives at an assisted-living facility in Lincoln, listed as a protected person.

Mr Svoboda, however, expressed disappointment about the nature of attention given to the video, and the jokes made at its expense. “To me, it shows how little society really cares about people with mental health issues,” he told the Journal Star. “She does have a very tender heart … but anything she says is certifiably schizophrenic … she’s not some crazy conservative.” He also added that this was a reflection on the society at large.

Ms Svoboda is also a registered lobbyist at the Capitol, and speaks twice a month during the council’s open mic sessions. She has in the past spoken of “Chinese subliminals” that come through mobiles, the Journal Star adds.

Known as the “Crazy Blue Protesting Lady” at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Campus, where she has handed out thousands of fliers, her Facebook page has nearly 3,000 members.