Gay couple awarded $10,000 for teen harassment

The Quebec Human Rights Commission has ordered a gay couple be awarded $10,000 for being harassed by young people in their Montreal West Island neighbourhood.

Theo Wouters and Roger Thibaultsaid four teenagers from their Pointe-Claire neighbourhood badgered them on several occasions in recent years because of their sexual orientation.

In a ruling made public Tuesday, the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission ordered the parents of one of the youths to pay the two men $10,000.

Wouters said its a victory for him and his life partner, who are determined to live in the suburban middle-class neighbourhood despite being occasionally harassed. "We love our place," Wouters told CBC.

"I dont think that a bunch of morons can chase us out. I mean, the black people, if they hadnt stood up, theyd still be in the same position, and we feel for us, its the same way."

One of the teens named in thecase later admitted he targeted the couple because theyre gay, and it bothered him.

Three other teens mentioned in the case now live in Calgary and are not affected by the ruling.

Wouters and Thibault have lived together for more than 30 years and got married a few years ago. They made headlines in 2002, as the first gay couple in Quebec to get married by civil union.