Lesbian Couple Held Responsible for Possible Hate Crime

An insurance company is claiming that a lesbian couple in Tennessee should be held liable for setting their own house ablaze, despite the couple's claim that the fire was started by a neighbor.

Laura and Carol Anne Stutte spent a weekend in Nashville in September 2010 and when they returned to their home in Vonore, Tenn., they found their house was burned to the ground. In addition, the word "queers" was spray painted on their garage.

Their insurance company, American National Property and Casualty Company, has denied the claim and has filed a lawsuit against the couple to void the policy. However, the couple filed a counter-suit earlier this month, stating that the accusations are false, according to WBIR News. The Stuttes said the insurance company was informed that the women were away that weekend and of the preexisting harassment.

Prior to this incident, the women filed a suit against the same neighbor in February. In addition to harassment allegations, it was also stated that their dogs were poisoned.

The insurance company has not yet stated how the women are responsible for the fire.