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This article was published 1/4/2013 (2725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press Chris McNally says the vandalism was the first time he�s experienced homophobia in Winnipeg.

IT was an Easter Sunday message Chris McNally would rather forget.

The Winnipeg man was stunned to find his William Avenue home had been spray-painted with homophobic slurs. McNally, who is gay, believes this was a deliberate attack against him.

"It's completely out of the blue. To my knowledge I don't have a beef with anyone, so I'm not sure where it could have come from," McNally told the Free Press on Monday.

McNally was preparing to embark on his daily morning routine of walking his dogs when he stepped outside and discovered the words "FAG" and "HOMO" in black paint on the side of his white-trimmed home. He said the culprit must have struck overnight.

McNally moved to Winnipeg about three years ago from a small community in northwestern Ontario and runs a dog-grooming business out of his home. This was his first brush with homophobia in the big city.

"I haven't had any issues since I moved here. I never expected someone, especially in this day, would have that type of ignorance," he said.

McNally immediately contacted police, who came to his residence to take photographs and a statement. But with no apparent forensic evidence or witnesses, they have little with which to work.

"I have zero suspects who it could have been. So without knowing who it could be, I guess we just have to wait and see if something happens," said McNally.

He said the incident hasn't changed his overall view on Winnipeg but admits he's shaken by the personal attack and will be extra vigilant going forward.

"But not to the point that I'm going to become a hermit," said McNally.

www.mikeoncrime.com