Why Won’t Carol Ann + Laura Stutte’s Insurance Company Pay Up For The Arson Attack On Their Home?

Carol Ann and Laura Stutte, the lesbian Tennessee couple who allege their homophobic neighbor burned their house down after years of anti-gay harassment, aren’t having their lives made any easier by their insurance company. It’s been months since the Sept. 4, arson, and while I’m no home insurance claims expert, that seems like a long time to withhold payment. Might American National Property and Casualty Insurance think the couple set fire to their own home? Maybe! Except, uh, they were out of town on holiday when the place was set ablaze. But until police wrap up their investigaiton, American National isn’t writing any checks. Which means the Stutte family has no home, and no means to rebuild. “Even more disturbing is the institutionalized homophobia of the insurance industry,” notes The Gay Manfiesto. “Like many homeowners, the Stuttes 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.” This, despite multiple documented incidents, reported to the police, showing the neighbor’s intent