Gay couple accuses mold inspector of sending slew of viciously homophobic texts

A mold inspector in Denver is the subject of discrimination complaints after he allegedly unleashed a deluge of homophobic texts on a couple after realizing they were gay.

Screenshots in the filing reveal texts with phrases including “little queer,” “queer boy,” and homophobic references to oral sex.

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“We didn’t expect that here, especially in Denver,” said one of the victims of the abuse. “It was very disheartening.”

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The couple, Evan VanGheem and Jordan Carter, say the inspector, Shannon Walker of Walker Environmental LLC, was engaged by VanGheem’s cousin, the owner of their condo, to check for mold. The initial inspection was conducted without incident.

But on later visits, they say Walker treated them in a hostile manner once he realized they were a couple.

In complaints filed with the Denver Anti-Discrimination Office, VanGheem, Jordan and condo owner Veronique VanGheem allege Walker harassed, taunted, and threatened them.

Veronique VanGheem’s complaint also accuses the company owner of overcharging her and forcing her to pay upfront “because of my association with gay family members and renters.”

In comments to the Denver Post, Walker declined to discuss specifics of the case and claimed he hadn’t seen the complaints.

“I’ve never had this happen to me or be accused of this because I just wasn’t raised to be judgmental or racist or anything like that,” he said.

Walker visited the condo three times after he was hired. Tests for hazardous mold spores came back positive.

According to the complainants, their relationship with Walker descended into acrimony in person and via text soon after he realized the tenants were gay.

He saw the couple together again on his second visit, “suggesting to Mr. Walker that we were in a relationship and lived with each other,” according to VanGheem’s complaint.

The complaint says that soon after, when Veronique VanGheem questioned a bill, Walker boasted he made “a killing on your job,” and advised VanGheem, “Next time do your research!” with a laughing emoji.

He added she should “go get some mental help, cuz God knows you need it!!!”

Walker admitted that he and the condo’s owner got into “heated” arguments over his work and recommendations, but claimed Veronique VanGheem was trying to dispute her final payment, despite Walker completing the job as contracted.

He claimed as well that arguments with Evan VanGheem arose when the tenant was asking questions that Walker says he wasn’t authorized to answer to anyone but the owner.

The couple says the homophobic messages began after Evan VanGheem posted a negative review on HomeAdvisor about Walker.

“The way that the relationship ended was really jarring for me,” Veronique VanGheem said. “And I felt like what he did to Evan and Jordan was really uncalled for and I didn’t want this to happen to anyone else in the LGBTQ community.”