Arson suspected in possible hate crime against harassed gay couple

CLAYTON, N.C. — A fire that gutted the home of a gay couple who had been victims of harassment for more than a year, is being investigated as arson, and possible hate crime.

The couple, who did not want to be identified out of fear for their safety, were out of town when the fire broke out early Friday morning.

Via WRAL-TV:

A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of backlash against her, said there have been at least three separate incidents of anti-gay harassment at the home. A note with derogatory language was left in the mailbox, an anti-gay slur was written on the house with marker, and the tires of a car parked in the garage were slashed, the neighbor said.

“For this to happen here… it’s heartbreaking,” she said. “I can’t even put into words how horrible it is for them.”

Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell confirmed that the sheriff’s office was aware of two of those incidents, but would not say which two. He would not confirm whether they are related to the arson investigation.

Another neighbor in the subdivision said he feels sorry for the male couple because they lost everything. He and others in the neighborhood believe it was a hate crime.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the blaze was a hate-crime.

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Lesbian couple suing next-door neighbor for alleged arson

VONORE, Tenn. — A lesbian couple in Tennessee who home was burned to the ground last September, has filed a lawsuit against the woman they believe set the fire — their next-door neighbor.

Carol Ann and Laura Stutte feel they are victims of a hate crime, and were targeted because they’re gay — they found the word “queers” spray painted in large letters on their garage when they returned from a trip to Nashville to discover the charred remains of their home.

According to Carol Ann and Laura, their neighbor — Janice Millsaps — told them, “the only thing better than one dead queer is two dead queers.”

Via Metro Pulse:

The complaint does allege taunts made by Millsaps that specifically targeted the Stuttes’ sexual orientation.

For example, a month before the fire, on Aug. 4, they allege, Millsaps, whose double wide mobile home rests about 20 feet from the gate leading to the Stuttes’ property, approached them as they stopped to close their front gate.
 

She poked at the Stuttes, alleges the complaint, and asked them, “Do you know what is better than one dead queer? Two dead queers.” The complaint notes that she then threatened to burn their house down, laughed, and returned to her house.

The Stuttes moved into the home in June of 2005. Police reports state that for years before the fire, Carol Ann and Laura were harassed by Millsaps, but no arrests were made.

In the complaint against Millsaps, the Stuttes are seeking $292,688.82 for trespassing and depriving them of personal property, and a total of $880,000, which includes damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress and malicious harassment.

The couple has been together more than 15 years.

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