An appeals court in New York state will begin addressing the question that has been on the forefront of everyone's minds for years: Are chimps actually people?

A lawsuit filed in New York on behalf of a chimp named Tommy seeks to grant primates the same basic legal rights as humans.

Via the New York Post:

The extraordinary proceeding is the result of a lengthy battle by animal-rights activists who argue that animals with human qualities — including chimps — are entitled to human protections, including freedom from captivity.

Steven Wise, part of the Nonhuman Rights Project, which is leading the effort, will have to convince a panel of Albany appellate judges that a chimp name Tommy is a "legal person" to get him moved from a cage in an upstate farm to a sanctuary in Florida.

Wise initially brought his case for Tommy to a Montgomery County court, where a judge ruled against him, saying, "You make a very strong argument. However, I do not agree with the argument only insofar as (habeas corpus) applies to chimpanzees."

But that didn't stop Wise. He will plead his case Wednesday in Albany, where he will once again make the claim that keeping Tommy the chimp in his cage is the same as putting a human in solitary confinement. The chimp's owner (who, weirdly, is not Wise himself) has different feelings:

Tommy's owner, Patrick Lavery of Gloversville, told the Albany Times-Union the chimpanzee is happy and has cable TV and a stereo to entertain him.

Please respond below and let us know if you believe chimps are people. Thank you.

[Image via AP]