Grace Schneider

@gesinfk

LGBT-related graffiti discovered at Humana's Waterside building downtown earlier this week prompted the FBI to step in on a joint investigation with Louisville police.

On Thursday morning, investigators weren't saying it was a hoax or a joke, but they believe that what they uncovered so far did not appear to be a credible threat, said Stephanie Collins, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney's office in Louisville.

Humana officials had confirmed late Tuesday that they had increased security and allowed some employees at the North First Street location to go home after word of the graffiti found in a restroom circulated through the building. Because it came just days after the mass shootings at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the company took the threat seriously.

Collins confirmed that the words referenced LGBT matters.

The 11-story building, at 101 N. 1st St., is located a block or so from the popular gay nightclub, the Connection, and prompted several people to wonder if the timing had to do with plans for the Kentuckiana Pride Parade, which is set for Friday evening as the kick-off to the annual Pride festival at the Belvedere.

Humana spokeswoman Kate Marx said there's no change in what the company is reporting. "The investigation is ongoing, and we're continuing to encourage associates to report anything suspicious," she said

One person who works at Humana who did not want to be identified told the Courier-Journal that the message was along the lines of what happened in Orlando is going to happen here.

That discovery coming on the heels of the devastation in Florida last weekend prompted several employees and those who heard about the situation to describe the matter in social media posts as worrisome and to insist on the need to keep the public informed.

"While this was in all likelihood a prank by someone wanting a day off or avoiding a meeting, awareness should still be made. We must speak on the issues, directly and without hesitation. This is a community under attack ..." wrote a person whose post was circulated widely on Facebook.

The investigation was launched during a week when Humana takes extra measures to highlight its support for a diverse workforce and the LGBT community. It streamed banners from its Main Street headquarters, as it does annually, to coincide with the nearby Pride events.

In March, Humana officials wrote that in light of various legislative proposals, they wanted to reaffirm the "belief in having a diverse and inclusive workplace. Humana’s commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality is a big part of our success. Thriving Together and Cultivating Uniqueness are central elements of our core values," executives wrote on a company website.

They also noted that the healthcare giant had earned the top designation of Best Place to Work for LGBT equality given by the Human Rights Campaign. It also received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, a national ranking administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Reporter Grace Schneider can be reached at 502-582-4082 or email gschneider@courier-journal.com.