Calling someone homosexual is not defamatory..

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by Reuters

NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - A companion of late Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith can sue an author for defamation but not over gay sex claims because homosexuality is no longer viewed as contemptible, a U.S. judge said on Wednesday.

Howard K. Stern is suing Rita Cosby and the Hachette Book Group over Cosby's bestseller "Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death."

Stern is the former lawyer and boyfriend of Smith, the Playboy playmate and Guess jeans model who died in 2007 from an accidental prescription drug overdose.

Stern claimed the book, which was published six months after Smith's death, contained 19 libelous statements, including that he had engaged in oral sex at a Los Angeles party with Larry Birkhead, the father of Smith's child, and that Smith had later called Stern gay.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin ruled the defamation case could proceed on 11 of the statements.

Chin dismissed Stern's claims that statements implying he was homosexual were defamatory, although he acknowledged that gays and lesbians still suffered prejudice.

"I respectfully disagree that the existence of this continued prejudice leads to the conclusion that there is a widespread view of gays and lesbians as contemptible and disgraceful," the judge said.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssC...BrandChannel=0

So there you go, in the US, its now not legally defamatory to call someone homosexual. Actually I think this is whlly sensible ruling as to have found the other way would have implied that there is someone wrong with being homosexual. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to exercise my right...


....I heard that Maki digs dudes.

[Ripper]

as much as im amused by this and can't help but think of the harold and kumar thing in gitmo with the "sandwich"...


keep in mind this is TB and not 'merica... not sure of the rules on something like this in the free section of the site

[WookieeForLife]

If you have to call someone gay in order to win a fight, make yourself feel better or look cool then I find you to be very uncool. I view it as a cheapshot. This is not directed at the Op and his Maki intrest but in general. To me your just making fun of a minority. /rant

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by WookieeForLife

If you have to call someone gay in order to win a fight, make yourself feel better or look cool then I find you to be very uncool. I view it as a cheapshot. This is not directed at the Op and his Maki intrest but in general. To me your just making fun of a minority. /rant

And herein lies the rub. By calling it a "cheapshot" you are implicitly saying that there is something wrong with being homosexual. As the judge pointed out (and I agree with), calling someone homosexual should not be seen as defamatory at all, its no different from calling someone a man or Asian. Its merely a state of being. By accepting it as an insult you become partly responsible for worsening the position of homosexuals.

[jady]

Maki touched my bum once :-O!!!

[Deluge Of Sound]

You own a homeless man?

Jady endorses slavery?

[Rattman]

This thread is doomed for obvious reasons... a waste of server space anyway IMO.

[bassteban]

What's *wosering* mean, Mark?

Edit: misspell added to misspell equals profoundly confused conversation. Worsening- I get it now. Carry on.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by bassteban

What's *wosering* mean, Mark?

worsening to make worse.

[jarrhead]

Im pretty sure politics aren't allowed.

[jarrhead]

It also says not to talk about homosexuality on here, doesnt it?

I sniff a thread lock.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Im pretty sure politics aren't allowed.

Politics?

[jarrhead]

well you know its going to become political. People's views on homosexuals and whatnot.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

well you know its going to become political. People's views on homosexuals and whatnot.

Religious maybe, if someone really wants to but there's nothing inherently political about it.

Not really much of a discussion to be had. Either you agree with the judge's ruling that homosexuality shouldn't be viewed as "contemptible and disgraceful" or you don't. FWIW I agree with the ruling.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Im pretty sure politics aren't allowed.

I'm pretty sure this isn't political.

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

And herein lies the rub. By calling it a "cheapshot" you are implicitly saying that there is something wrong with being homosexual.

That's not the point. Most straight guys don't want to be called gay, whether they have issues with others being gay or not. I don't like it one bit. I also wouldn't like being called a girl, or the "p" word. But I definitely don't have a problem with "p". Know what I mean?

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

It also says not to talk about homosexuality on here, doesnt it?

I sniff a thread lock.

From "the Rules":

Negative remarks based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.

As soon as that happens, let a mod know.

[Eublet]

The ruling is corect. The judge isn't ruling on whether someone finds it personally offensive. The ruling was based on having a legal recourse for defamation of character. You still have the right to get ticked off if someone calls you something. And people should still use common sense and not go around calling people names. Nothing to see here IMHO.

[blueskid]

i'm pretty psyched about this. maybe there will be some trickle down effect and 14 year old boys will have to find something else to call each other.
i mean, i can think of way worse things to call some one, being gay is pretty awesome.

[jarrhead]

Haha. Yeah I turn 14 myself tuesday. Anyways it does get annoying the level of immaturity around me.

Maybe the only reason im not immature like them is cause i had a big brother to fix me up. haha