Landlord fined $13,000 for anti-gay discrimination

Northwest Territories arbitrator rejects defence that landlord would have suffered the wrath of God.

Yellowknife (24 Sept. 2010) - A landlord in the Northwest Territories who refused to rent an apartment to a gay couple - claiming to fear the wrath of God - has been fined more than $13,000.

Human rights adjudicator James Posynick, writing on behalf of an arbitration panel, has ordered William Goertzen of Yellowknife to pay $6,500 each to Scott Robertson and Richard Anthony for discriminating as a landlord against them.

The two men filed a complaint in June 2009, alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Goertzen did not deny the accusation but defended himself on the basis of religious beliefs.

In its ruling, the panel found that Goertzen had originally agreed to let the two move into the apartment, receiving a deposit cheque of $1,125, but upon hearing they were in a long-term same-sex relationship, he changed his mind.

"Goertzen had no intention of honouring his agreement with the complainants because he believes that same-sex relationships are 'unnatural and against nature' and 'the Bible warns against being associated with such wickedness and there would be undue hardship upon him' if he would let them live there," the decision said.

The adjudicator said he found no evidence in the Bible or in encyclopedia excerpts filed by Goertzen to show he would suffer such harm if he rented to the couple.

The landlord was ordered to pay the couple $5,000 each "for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect" as well as $1,500 for punitive damages. In addition, Robertson was granted $400 for wages while pursuing the complaint.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE