Philadelphia city councilman Jack Kelly sure is touchy about being associated with the gays:
Kelly has sued Paul D. Corbett and Corbett’s loosely-assembled group, Citizens Opposed to Politicians Who Pander to Perverts, for defamation. Kelly field suit last month in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, asking at least $50,000 in damages.
Kelly, who is paying his own legal fees in the case, argues that fellow Republican Corbett and other members of COPPP “publicly and privately embarrassed and shamed” him by distributing fliers in church parking lots in the weeks before the November election.
The fliers announced that “Councilman Kelly voted with the homosexual lobby to remove the Boy Scouts from their city rent-free headquarters. The Scouts can remain only if they agree with the homosexual agenda which would promote sodomy to our youth.”
Kelly and fifteen other politicos voted to up the Boy Scouts’ rent because city lawyers found they could not grant preferential treatment to a group that discriminates.
babspmalone
I don’t read it that way at all. He’s harassing people who are harassing him.
JJ
These defamation (“you’re gay”)lawsuits are a non-starter nowadays. By giving the crackpots’ attention, he legitimizes their inaccurate arguments.
He should be proud that he’s part of a local government that has stood up to the Mormon agenda as promoted through the innocent Boy Schouts.
If you look around you, most local gov’ts have not been willing to take away the privileges the Boy Scouts enjoy (reduced/free rent of public spaces, for example), even though the Boy Scouts clearly do not adhere to local laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Jim
(Princess) Grace Kelly, from Philly, had a brother Jack–is this the same Jack Kelly, anyone know?
The Real John
Have there been any updates on the Ben Massing lawsuit?
PhillyJim
Jim – that is NOT the same Kelly. Jack Kelly (grace kelly’s brother) died in the 80’s. He was actually famous in his own right – an Olympic rower. The Jack Kelly in question is actually a republican for the northeast section (VERY republican) area of the city.
Brian Miller
I live in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s case law is quite clear — being “accused” of being gay, or “associating with gays” — is not defamatory. Any court will throw this lawsuit out immediately.