Here’s a story that’s getting weirder: Guy Earle, the Toronto comedian who responded to some lesbian hecklers by going on a massive, anti-lesbian tirade and snapping one of their sunglasses in half is now facing a human rights complaint over the incident. He’s holding a benefit gala on the 19^th to raise funds for a legal defense.

The evening of comedy includes several stand-up comedians, most notably Linda Ellis, a lesbian comic. (No, there’s no Michael Richards—but can you imagine?)

Now, I’ve previously slapped Mr. Earle for his bizarre and violent response to the hecklers, but I gotta say this human rights complaint won’t go very far. I’m not sure how much I can comment on the whole situation without having been there, but I’d have a really hard time dismissing the context of a late-night comedy club. Guy Earle was dumb and should feel ashamed for his personal attacks, but he’s a raunchy comedian and the complainants were hecklers. Surely they can see the irony in this.

Earle deserves serious denunciation, just not from the state. (Well, OK, maybe a teeny fine to replace the sunglasses. Finding a good pair is hard!)

• Toronto comic facing human rights hearing to hold benefit show [Canada.com]
• Comic faces human rights hearing in B.C. [Canada.com]

Dealing with hecklers isn’t Guy Earle’s specialty. When a lesbian couple started kissing during the Vancouver comedian’s performance, he decided to draw audience attention to them, prompting drunken heckles. Reportedly, Earle’s response wasn’t exactly measured:

You’re fat and ugly, no wonder you’re lesbians, you can’t get a man that’s why you’re dykes. You must be on the rag, you stupid dykes.

After receiving the classic retaliatory “glass of water, meet face”, the comedian then took one of the woman’s sunglasses of her head and snapped them in half.

Earle, who was booed by the audience, later admitted that he “lost his cool,” but that “sexuality [had] nothing to do with it.”

Well, that ought to confirm his status as a comedian, no?

• Lesbians targeted at Zesty’s [Xtra West]