Utah road sign flashes 'God Hates Gays' in homophobic hacker attack

"GOD HATES GAYS," flashed across a road sign in Provo, Utah on Wednesday. The city and Utah Department of Transportation have joined together in denouncing the sign's message and insisting it does not mirror the city's values.

Someone hacked into the unsecured message board after 10 p.m. The computerized directional sign alteated between that homophobic message and "FOLLOW DETOUR." UDOT contacted the construction company and told them to remove the sign around 5:30 a.m., according to UDOT spokeswoman Leigh Dethma.

"Someone went in and reprogrammed this message board," Dethma told the Daily News. "We take this extremely seriously because of its offensive nature and because these signs are meant to keep the public safe."

Provo City Public Information Officer Helen Anderson considers Provo a tolerant and welcoming city. She doesn't feel the offensive sign reflects the attitudes or beliefs of Provo's residents.

"People are stepping up and saying, 'Hey, this doesn't represent us,'" she told the Daily News.

Someone recorded the sign and posted the video to YouTube, under the title "Really Provo?" Anderson verified to the Daily News that she commented on the video.

"This is not a Provo City sign and of course it does not reflect the opinion of the city," she wrote. "I personally find it very offensive. Despite every effort to prevent it, sometimes signs like this get hacked. The city has contacted the team working on this construction project and they are looking into it."

Gay rights group Equality Utah responded to the incident on their facebook page, "After speaking with both Provo City and UDOT we understand that this was an egregious hacking of state property, and join them in denouncing this unacceptable message."

The UDOT sign was placed on University Avenue where the department is currently doing ramp work. The sign is one of 40 in the biggest construction project of Utah's history. UDOT is adding two lanes in each direction to I-15. The project began in April 2010 and should be completed by the end of this year. All 40 signs have been checked and secured, said Dethman.

UDOT is taking the lead with investigations. Although tracking down the culprit may prove difficult because the sign cannot be accessed remotely and there were no video cameras in that location.

"That's why we are doing everything we can to make sure this never happens again," said Dethman.