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Loading ...Vacouver couple forced to pay fine after harrassing gay neighbors
06.19.2009 4:00pm EDT
(Vancouver) Patricia and Alexander Harrison have been ordered by a British Columbia supreme court justice to pay $15,000 (approximately $13,000 U.S.) for harassing and tormenting a gay couple who lives next door to them.
Rod Boggs and Bill Hart, who have lived in the four unit condo since 2006, said the Harrisons and their 17-year-old son have done everything from report false accusations to the police, attempt to instigate fist fights, hurled slurs, let the air out of the couple’s car tires, threatened to kill their cat and more.Though Mr. Harrison denied the claims that he and his wife told the couple that “gays weren’t welcome at Brighouse,” he was not believed.
“I have concluded that Mr. Harrison was not a credible witness,” Justice Doug Halfyard wrote. “I have grave concerns about his honesty, and I would not accept his testimony on the disputed points, unless I was satisfied that his evidence was confirmed by other independent and reliable evidence.”
Justice Halfyard did not award greater damages to the men because “to a limited extent” they had provoked the Harrisons, primarily by making complaints to the building. Among other things, the Harrisons had to remove their basketball hoops and provide adult supervision for their children in the pool.
Though Hart admitted to calling Patricia Harrison several names, he insists that he never called her “fat” to her face.
Read the full Vancouver Sun article here.
“he insists that he never called her “fat” to her face”.
Typical bitchy queen.
“primarily by making complaints to the building.”
How do you make a complaint to a building? Have a great day!
Michael A…..you’re so right! We in the U.S. should be ashamed. We’re supposed to be the champions of freedom and human rights…..hardly! That has been ceded to Canada and six others, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Norway, Sweden and South Africa….and counting.
To digress, I find it hypocritical and ironic that the situation in Iran has prompted the U.S. to condemn any form of suppression of those in opposition to the current regime. Hmmmmmm, we were pretty silent on the issue of public execution of gay muslims, not a word from anyone.
Be real careful about talking about allowing real Christian love into your heart.
When I first got involved in the gay equality battle, I was mystified by the so called christian love for gay people.
Of course this was conditional love – do as we tell you to do and we will love you. Don’t do as we tell you to do and we will make your life a living hell.
This is part of the basic tenants of the Catholic, Mormon, So. Baptist and other right wing churches. Terrorism if you don’t kow tow to their beliefs.
It sounds to me like what happened in Nazi Germany, happens in North Korea, etc.
There are multiple battles against religious terrorism in the world. One is in Afghanistan. There needs to be another one here in the USA.
Why do so many of you JUMP to conclusions when you read an article on this site that’s not even decently typed? Read the FULL article. Get this:
“Still, he added, he did not award greater damages because “to a limited extent” the men had provoked the Harrisons.
Before the conflict descended to the lowest and worst of the personal attacks, “there existed rational reasons” for the family to resent Boggs and Hart.
They were apparently responsible for triggering the removal of the Harrisons’ basketball hoop, their trampoline, and the glass sound barrier, flower pots and furniture from the front veranda. The Harrisons were forced to reduce the size of their back deck, to stop burning wood in their fireplace and to provide adult supervision for their children in the pool.”
This reminds me of 2 bitchy queens, not sensible gay men. I’d be a bit pissed if 2 men moved in and DEMANDED all of those changes, and got what they wanted. I agree with the judge that they did attempted to provoke the heterosexual couple.
I do want to make it clear that although I believe in the right to freedom of speech and expression, I do NOT believe that we have any right to harass people. However, I tend to believe that the straight couple isn’t as “homophobic” as 365gay is attempted to make this sound. I love this site, but it’s hugely biased lately.
BTW, I’m gay, and HUGE liberal.
Why do so many of you JUMP to conclusions when you read an article on this site that’s halfass prepared? Read the FULL article that is thankfully linked at teh bottom. Get this:
“Still, he added, he did not award greater damages because “to a limited extent” the men had provoked the Harrisons.
Before the conflict descended to the lowest and worst of the personal attacks, “there existed rational reasons” for the family to resent Boggs and Hart.
They were apparently responsible for triggering the removal of the Harrisons’ basketball hoop, their trampoline, and the glass sound barrier, flower pots and furniture from the front veranda. The Harrisons were forced to reduce the size of their back deck, to stop burning wood in their fireplace and to provide adult supervision for their children in the pool.”
WTF?! This reminds me of 2 bitchy queens, not sensible gay men. I’d be a bit pissed if 2 men moved in and DEMANDED all of those changes, and got what they wanted. I agree with the judge that they did attempted to provoke the heterosexual couple.
I do want to make it clear that although I believe in the right to freedom of speech and expression, I do NOT believe that we have any right to harass people. However, I tend to believe that the straight couple isn’t as “homophobic” as 365gay is attempted to make this sound. I love this site, but it’s hugely biased lately.
BTW, I’m gay, and HUGE liberal.
Being a Canadian, and living a short 4 1/2 hour drive from the Metropolis of Vancouver, I am very proud of our Canadian justice system in this particular instance. No one should have to put up with the harrassment that Mr. Boggs and Mr. Hart had to endure thanks to the Harrisons. The Harrisons need to be thankful that Justice Halfyard, while fully aware of the Harrison’s deceit, did not impose a bigger fine and maybe some community service (within the Gay Community) to give them a little bit of education on how intollerance and ignorance can cause great pain. I say a great big BRAVO to Mr. Boggs and Mr. Hart for standing up and not taking it anymore, and to Justice Halfyard for recognizing the wrong that has been dealt this couple and a great big BOO to the Harrisons – I hope you have all learned your lesson, I hope you will seek out what ever assistance you can to make yourselves better educated and more tolerant of the diversity that exists in human beings.
i myself and going through a similar case , with the woman above me , she rents and i own in our condo complex , and has been doing similar things , including filing false police reports and so on , i have asked for help from th elocal police department and have even gone to court on the matter with help from nobody , she continues to win , id wouldnt advise anyone gay family to move to westchester county , my place is for sale and cant wait to leave this fu#$%&* homophobic community . it just goes to show how canada is way more progressive then the suposed land of the free…..
I do not agree with the judge in not ordering them to pay more for this makes little sense
“because “to a limited extent” they had provoked the Harrisons, primarily by making complaints to the building. Among other things, the Harrisons had to remove their basketball hoops and provide adult supervision for their children in the pool.”
Sounds like justice was not completely served but it is wonderful the hetero couple had to pay something for harassing the 2 men.
When will these so called “Christians” grow up and start learning that to be true Christians, you need to allow love into your heart!
Standing up (ok, sitting down) for our rights!
USA is too much of a religious Jesus freak country to understand anything and will never be equal to Canada.
Canada = Equal Rights 4 All
USA = Separate but Equal
Yet another reason why I wish I could live in Vancouver…great city, great clubs, excellent judges that can see through the bigotry the LGBT community there has to face on a daily basis. He totally called the Harrisons out. They more than likely tried to play the “oh woe is me” card, and the judge did not buy it.
Good for him!! Oh, Canada, why can’t the USA follow your great example?
Hail Canada!
“Justice Halfyard did not award greater damages to the men because “to a limited extent” they had provoked the Harrisons, primarily by making complaints to the building. Among other things, the Harrisons had to remove their basketball hoops and provide adult supervision for their children in the pool.”
So – these men were penalized by asking that the rules be enforced?
And this judge is supposed to represent doing the right thing?
Color me confused.
Still – something is better than nothing.
BRAVO! Too bad the court didn’t award more money to the Gay couple.
All I can say is “BRAVO” to the Supreme Court