Canadian Comedian Ordered To Pay $22,000 To A Lesbian For Insulting Her At A Comedy Club

VANCOUVER — A B.C. Supreme Court judge has upheld a ruling from a human rights tribunal awarding more than $22,000 to a lesbian after a comedian insulted her at a restaurant. Comedian Guy Earle and restaurant owner Salam Ismail appealed the tribunal ruling that said they discriminated against Lorna Pardy when Earle unleashed a torrent of homophobic insults during a 2007 comedy show. The tribunal heard that Earle began the insults when he saw Pardy kissing her partner and the situation escalated to a profanity-laden rant, where Earle repeatedly attacked the woman’s sexuality. Earle even confronted the woman, pushing her and breaking her sunglasses. The challengers claimed part of the Human Rights Code was unconstitutional and infringed on their right to freedom of expression. Justice Jon Sigurdson noted in his ruling that comedic expression may be protected, even when it’s in poor taste. But he noted: “Here the conduct and expression in question was not part of any performance per se, it was not a response to hecklers in the audience, and it was coupled with physical abuse. The comments by Mr. Earle were some distance from the core values underlying the freedom of expression.” Earle’s lawyer argued comedy club patrons must have thick skins and hecklers must know they will be targeted for insults. “I will assume all of that to be so, and I accept that comedy clubs are places where performers push boundaries and sometimes try to generate outrage,” the judge said. “It does not follow that comedy clubs are zones of absolute immunity from human rights legislation.” Both Earle and Ismail also asked the court for a review of the award of damages against them.The tribunal ordered Earle to pay the woman $15,000 and Ismail to pay $7,500 for injury to Pardy’s dignity, feelings and self-respect.

Thank God this kinda shit goes down in Canada and not here in the Good Old US of A. The day I can’t make fun of someone – straight, gay, dyke or otherwise – without forking over $20,000 is the day I flee the country. Because if you’re a lesbian sitting in the crowd of comedy show sucking face with your girlfriend, you gotta know whats coming your way. Everyone knows that anybody in front of a stand up comic is fair game, especially the chick lezzing out and sucking face in public. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you I’m gonna shove this lesbian and break her sunglasses, but I’d certainly make fun of her gay PDA ass.

I think the most absurd part of this is the $7,500 she gets paid for injury to her “dignity, feelings and self respect.” What an absurd number to throw out there. Anyone who thinks their feelings or dignity is worth 7500 bucks is a conceited asshole. I’m probably on the lower end of the spectrum – my feelings and self respect is probably worth about 600 bucks, max – but anyone who thinks their walking around with 7,500 dollars worth of feelings is a complete asshole.