BOSTON -- A civil rights injunction was issued Wednesday against a Norwood woman accused of repeatedly harassing a gay neighbor.

Deborah May allegedly continually harassed the victim, who is a tenant in the apartment building where she lives. In November 2007, officials said May allegedly began spreading false rumors that the victim is a sexual predator and pedophile, Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

The complaint further states that six months later, May complained to her landlords about the victim's display of a gay pride flag outside his apartment and had the flag removed. Soon thereafter, on multiple occasions, May allegedly screamed anti-gay epithets at the victim in the presence of other tenants and physically confronted the victim in the yard of his home.

The complaint further alleges that on August 31, 2008, May made a baseless report to the Norwood Police Department falsely claiming that the victim had exposed himself.

"Bias-motivated conduct, such as the harassment and intimidation we allege in this case, are devastating to victims not only because of the immediate physical and emotional harm they cause, but because feelings of fear, anxiety and profound loss of personal security often last far longer than the incident,” said Coakley. "Beyond their impact on individual victims, hate crimes and other forms of bias-motivated activity are very detrimental to communities, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated."

The order prohibits May from threatening, intimidating, or coercing the victim or anyone else in the state on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. It also prevents May from contacting or communicating with the alleged victim or his family and requires her to stay at least 500 yards from his place of employment.

A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a house of correction, or if bodily injury results from such a violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in state prison.
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