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Is Calling Someone Gay Defamatory?

By Mike

Are Ross Weil and Brett Royce gay?  Or just bosom buddies?  Weil and Royce, after all, were college roommates who moved close to each other after college.  Perhaps recognizing that they are homophobes, editors of the American University alumni newsletter "reported" that they had gotten married.  No big deal, right?  Wrong.  Weil and Royce (who are sharing a lawyer, and perhaps a shoulder to cry on) are suing American University for the "false, defamatory, malicious, and libelous article."  (They are each seeking $750,000 in damages.)  The complaint alleges that calling a straight person gay is libel per se.  The suit is ridiculous, but it does raise certain interesting issues...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on September 10, 2007 (boomark / email).