Canadian stand-up comedian Guy Earle will face a human rights tribunal hearing after a woman claimed her and her friends where victims of a “tirade of homophobic and sexist comments” and one of his shows.

This all stems from an Open Mic show Guy Earle was hosting at Zesty’s Restaurant, in Vancouver, Canada. The complainant (Lorna Pardy) and two friends entered the club and sat at the booth closet to the stage. Guy Earle says they began to heckle him.

"Two of them started making out, flipping me the bird and saying I hated lesbians," he said.

He then proceeded to verbally strike back at the hecklers, as all comics do.

"They were drunk, they were being jerks and I was very rude and visceral to them because, like I said, if you have a heckler what you want to do is put them in their place by offending them, so I tried to hit them where it hurts and the only thing I had to key on was the fact that they were lesbians.”

"I don’t care if they’re lesbians, heterosexuals, homosexuals or giraffes."

Obviously, they have different accounts of the story. But that is the reason the “B.C. Human Rights Tribunal” ruled that they will hear Lorna Pardy’s case against Guy Earle, and the restaurant owners.

“In a decision released this week, the B. C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled there is enough evidence to hear the case of Vancouver woman Lorna Pardy against Toronto comedian Guy Earle. Zesty’s Restaurant in Vancouver, where the May 22, 2007, show took place, has also been named in the complaint."

Ms. Pardy could not be reached yesterday for comment. However, the tribunal’s decision says she alleges she was discriminated against over her sex and sexual orientation when Mr. Earle made public comments "intended to humiliate her."  “

Guy Earle adds

"The reader or the listener or whatever has no feeling for the environment of the comedy show that is triple-X, edgiest-show-in-town, controversial and offensive, so when you walk in there you’re making an agreement to be a party to this controversial show."

Watch Guy Earle Discussing it  /   Read the Full Story Here   /     Read the Full Court Decision

 
Editorial Note:

This is terrible for comedy, and free speech everywhere. These types of politically correct, mindlessly restrictive laws have ruined people and organizations before, and this needs to end. Comedians, and everyone’s right to free speech cannot be hindered. We need to be on the look out for storys like this and try to support people when possible. Sketchy Premise will stay on top of Free Speech news, and try to help these people having the weight of governments brought down on them by someone who couldn’t take a joke.

Visit Guy Earle’s Myspace page to contact him.