Feb 24, 2011 3
Lesbian Couple Refused Insurance After Home Destroyed By Arson
Lesbian couple stand in the ruins of their home after arson attack, the word "Queers" spray painted on the garage in the background. Insurance company refuses to pay on hate crime against homosexuals.
On the night of September 4th 2010 a homophobic christian neighbor burned Carol Ann and Laura Stutte’s dream home to the ground. After five months the Tennessee officials investigating the arson have yet to charge anyone and the American National Property and Casualty Insurance company is refusing to pay on the couples claim until the investigation is complete.
Returning from Nashville where Carol Ann and Laura celebrated their anniversary they found a pile of rubble where their dream home once stood.
Despite numerous police reports documenting a neighbor that had threatened to burn down their home and who repeatedly told them the “…only thing better than one dead queer was two dead queers…” no arrests have been made.
The Stutte home had no gas service and was all electric. Even with witness reports of two explosions and a fireball that could be seen above the treeline, that all waterhoses on the property had been cut and that “QUEER” had been painted on their garage the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation and FBI have yet to rule the fire as an arson.
What is even more disturbing is that the Stutte’s insurance company, American National Property and Casualty has yet to pay a dime to the Stutte family even though they had purchased coverage to provide them habitation and living expenses in the case of such a loss.
via Their American Dream.
It is not surprising that the Tennessee officials are dragging their feet on the investigation. Tennessee does not include Gays and Lesbians in their states hate crimes statutes and has recently introduced legislation that would imprison teachers for discussing homosexuality in schools.
Even more disturbing is the institutionalized homophobia of the insurance industry. Like many homeowners, the Stutte’s had opted for additional coverage in case of total loss. This additional coverage would provide for housing as well as living expenses until the claim was settled. Five months later American National Property and Causality has not paid a single penny on the claim.
If a straight African American couple had their home burned by the christian klan an insurance agent would be at the door with a check the next day. If a straight Jewish couple were burned out by a local group of Neo-Nazi’s they would have already rebuilt.
The hate filled attitude of “we don’t want no faggots in our neighborhood” is spreading as our community scores civil rights victories. Recently there has been a rash of arson attacks and increased violence against Gays and Lesbians in America as christian churches ramp up the anti-Gay hate rhetoric. Some christian ministers have gone so far as to call for a civil war to keep the “dirty homo” in his place.
Gays and Lesbians have the same right to the American Dream as anyone else. Watch the video and tell me what you would do if this were your home.
When they come to burn your family out of the neighborhood will you be ready? Nothing stops a crazed christian arsonist faster than a bullet to the head. Arm yourself and protect your family.
Sign the petition and stand up against the institutionalized bigotry against Gays and Lesbians in the insurance industry.
