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Man commits 'Suicide' - Lost Lawsuit after Gay Pride arrest
Gay man who lost lawsuit against San Diego police for arrest during pride parade over butt-exposing gladiator costume dies in apparent suicide after racking up $1M in legal bills
Police were called to the apartment of 35-year-old Will X Walters Wednesday
It's unclear how long he had been dead; the medical examiner is investigating
Walters was arrested in 2011 during a gay pride event for wearing a leather gladiator outfit that didn't fully cover his buttocks
Sued the police for anti-gay discrimination but a federal jury ruled against him
His attorney said he hadn't heard from his client since the December 13 verdict
Will X Walters (left), 35, was found dead Wednesday in his San Diego apartment in an apparent suicide. He had just lost a lawsuit against San Diego police, who arrested him for nudity after he wore a gladiator costume (right) at a gay pride event in 2011
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A man who lost a grueling, five-year lawsuit against San Diego police after being arrested for nudity during a gay pride festival has died in an apparent suicide.
Police found 35-year-old Will X Walters dead at his Hillcrest apartment Wednesday but it's unclear how long he'd been dead, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The medical examiner is examining the case.
Walters was arrested in 2011 during a gay pride event at Balboa Park for wearing a leather gladiator outfit that didn't fully cover his buttocks. He sued the police for anti-gay discrimination but a federal jury had recently ruled against him.
His attorney, Chris Morris, said he hadn't heard from his client since the December 13 verdict, which had left Walters in shock. He had left the courtroom immediately, after which his friends had also tried in vain to get in touch with him.
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Walters (pictured) had racked up roughly $1 million in legal costs, according to his legal team. He had created his own advocacy group to help others know and defend their rights
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Walters racked up roughly $1 million in legal costs, according to his legal team.
'Will Walters was a valiant warrior for his cause, and he will be missed by those who knew him and the community he fought for,' Morris told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday.
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Will Walters is a Hispanic, gay man who owns the dubious distinction of being the only person in the history of the City of San Diego to be arrested and booked on a charge of public nudity,' his complaint stated according to Courthouse News.
'Under any definition, he was not nude, as his buttocks and genitalia were fully covered. Nonetheless, he was ushered out of the event, humiliated, arrested, and incarcerated.'
The law, according to Walters, allowed 'thongs, g-strings, and other skimpy bathing suits to be worn by participants and attendees at straight special events, but not by attendees and participants at the one gay special event, Pride'.
His outfit, on which he had spent 'significant' money, taking special care to make sure it obeyed the rules of the festival, passed muster when Walters was admitted to the event, the suit reads.
But, Walters said, an officer told him his costume was 'borderline' and several officers eventually arrested him.
During his five-year lawsuit, Walters had created Free Will USA, an advocacy organization to help others know and defend their rights.
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He had thanked his supporters in a heartfelt message on The Pride LA's Facebook page just days before the verdict. Being 'in the trenches' in court was very hard, Walters wrote, adding that his fight was 'not only about the 14th amendment, it's about defending the entire Constitution'.
'The reason I continue this fight is so that we all can continue giving our opinions and we can enjoy the luxury of equal enforcement as well as freedom of speech,' Walters added.
'We need to remember that EVERY freedom in the Bill Of Rights are rights that so many people around the world do not enjoy.
'I continue this fight not because of myself, but for everyone and I want to thank everyone for allowing me to represent them in this struggle.
'Regardless win or lose, it's been a really long journey and myself, my friends and my legal team have fought as hard as we could, but it's all to support my fellow Americans and again I want to thank everyone.
'You all are so amazing and God Bless America!'
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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz4UKp1LvOv
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Awwwww. Rest in peace Gay warrior.
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