AG wins court order against woman who allegedly harassed gay neighbor

January 7, 2009 02:21 PM Email| Comments (15)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

A Norwood woman has been barred from threatening coercing, or intimidating her gay neighbor -- or anyone else -- based on their sexual orientation, the state attorney general's office said today.

Deborah May allegedly engaged in repeated and severe intimidation and harassment of a man who lives in the same apartment building as she does.

Such conduct is devastating to victims "not only because of the immediate physical and emotional harm ... but because feelings of fear, anxiety and profound loss of personal security often last far longer than the incident," Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement.

The complaint was filed Dec. 31. May allegedly harassed the victim in a number of ways, including spreading false rumors that he was a sexual predator and pedophile, screaming anti-gay epithets at him, and falsely reporting to police that he had exposed himself.

The preliminary civil rights injunction issued late Tuesday by Norfolk Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh also prevents May from contacting or communicating with the victim or his family and requires her to stay away from his workplace.

If May violates the order, she could be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and 2 1/2 years in the county jail. If bodily injury results from the violation, she could face a fine of up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in state prison.

The litigation is continuing. The attorney general's office hopes to make the terms of the injunction permanent, said attorney general's spokeswoman Amie Breton.

There is no telephone listing for a Deborah May in Norwood.

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15 comments so far...

Keep it classy, Norwood.

Posted by J January 7, 09 02:31 PM

what a sick woman...

Posted by d January 7, 09 02:33 PM

We can map the genome, send men to the moon, and master language, mathematics, chemistry and many other sciences but we cannot evolve as a species to a point where we don't hate Zion or understand sexual orientations that are not our own. We will ever be better than human?

Posted by ryfromthemerrimackvalley January 7, 09 02:50 PM

Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

Posted by will January 7, 09 03:10 PM

Her neighbor should get a restraining order against her, forcing her to vacate the building. Anyone that engages in that kind of behavior is one short step away from violence and this guy remains in danger as long her she's still out there. I can't imagine that the court order will do anything but further enrage her.

Posted by JBar January 7, 09 03:50 PM

She should be ashamed for her disgusting behavior. I think he should sue her for defamation of character etc. NO ONE should be treated like that!!!

Posted by Lilly January 7, 09 04:20 PM

Some gay people deserved to be protected, but some just want to treated like
they are so special like that. Normal people find it very disturbing that's how I
see it.

Posted by stephanie January 7, 09 04:28 PM

This woman has severe psychological problems!

It's unfortunate � even negligent � to see AG Coakley copping-out by only seeking an injunction, when the allegations offer an opportunity to mandate a counseling intervention and monitoring through probation... The AG & all DAs should be REQUIRED to order a psychological evaluation in cases this flagrant!

Posted by deltaman January 7, 09 04:44 PM

Unless this woman is mentally ill, she is one piece of work. How about live and let live?

Posted by mary January 7, 09 05:14 PM

"Whatever happened to freedom of speech?"

Freedom of speech ends when it infringes upon the rights of others. The woman CLEARLY attacked the rights of the person.

Posted by Johnny January 7, 09 09:46 PM

Will"whatever happened to freedom of speech". It's still here, but if that speech (after freely being spoken) does physical and/or emotional harm to another person, that person is also free to bring charges for malicious harrassment and deliberate injury . You are free to yell "fire" in a crowded theatre, and the theatre is free to arrest you for causing a stampede. It works both ways, and we are all responsible for what comes out of our mouths.

Posted by dr. bob January 7, 09 11:22 PM

"Some gay people deserved to be protected, but some just want to treated like
they are so special like that. Normal people find it very disturbing that's how I
see it."

Stephanie, get a grip. The same can be said of straight people. And the subject at hand has nothing to do with anyone wanting to be treated special. And who is the "normal" person in this case? It sure isn't Deborah May.

Posted by pastol January 8, 09 02:02 PM

I'll bet any amount Deberah thinks of herself as a good Christian.
Let's send her a ticket for the movie, "Milk".

Posted by Patrick Mulvihill January 9, 09 07:28 PM

Its about time that justice bo for every human and not just the few select it seems to be all the time. I for one think Deborah May needs to rot in jail for a while. Maybe then her attitude would change, but given the type of person she is. I doubt that will ever happen. Once a biggot always a biggot!

Posted by brian January 10, 09 06:50 AM

Poor woman. How will she ever get into heaven with a heart so full of hate?

Posted by Gloria January 12, 09 01:53 PM