Remaining silent: Canadian Parliament OKs a law to criminalize speech deemed "anti-gay"

WORLD ^ | 5/8/04 | Lynn Vincent

[Zender500]

Sometimes, protesters prove their opponents' point. In Canada last month, a dozen masked men wearing military camouflage burst into a Christian meeting at a Calgary, Alberta, hotel. They beat sticks together, hoisted signs, and roared slogans, drowning out a speech by Rev. Tristan Emmanuel on "Christophobia" and the actions taken against Christians for their unpopular views on homosexuality.

"Haters!" screamed the self-proclaimed "Gay Militia" into the faces of men and women who had been meeting peacefully. "Bigots! ... What you are doing is a hate crime!"

The raucous invasion lasted 10 to 15 minutes, said Jim Blake, regional director of the Concerned Christian Coalition, the group that sponsored the meeting. The Gay Militia ignored both meeting organizers and hotel security personnel who asked them to leave. When the men finally did march out, just ahead of the arrival of police, Mr. Blake was left to wonder again, just who is "hating" whom?

In Canada, the Gay Militia's definition of "hate"—expressing public opposition to homosexuality—is now officially the law of the land. Bill C-250, which adds "sexual orientation" to the nation's wide-ranging hate-propaganda law, sailed through the Senate on April 28 on a vote of 59-11. Before C-250 it was already illegal to publish, distribute, mail, import, or speak any communication that could be perceived as promoting or inciting "hate" against "identifiable groups," such as members of a certain race or gender. The new law recognizes gays and lesbians as an identifiable group—and makes any person who criticizes homosexuals publicly subject to two years in jail.

The bill's salient text reads like an Inner Party edict out of 1984:

"Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, willfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of ... an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years."

That punishment might not be enough to suit Svend Robinson, the left-wing parliamentarian who authored C-250. In an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail last year, Mr. Robinson made it clear that he hopes his measure will criminalize not violence, but speech per se, making "the current use of homophobic pejoratives in public schools and in public places" socially and criminally reprehensible.

On record as labeling Christian leaders "ecclesiastical dictators," Mr. Robinson was the first openly gay member of the Canadian legislature. He is also the most recent member to step down. Video surveillance cameras recorded the lawmaker as he swiped a $50,000 ring from an auction house (WORLD, May 1). Confessing his crime at a tearful press conference, Mr. Robinson dabbed his eyes with tissue and explained that he'd "just snapped" under stress.

Mr. Robinson wasn't in Parliament to savor his moment of victory. While a special prosecutor weighs whether to charge him with theft for a crime that's been replayed endlessly on Canadian television, Mr. Robinson is on "extended medical leave," ordered by his doctor to avoid all political activity.

That kind of instability, and his history of anti-Christian invective, has Canadian conservatives skeptical of Mr. Robinson's claims that C-250—which lives on in spite of its author's political demise—provides a religious exemption. The bill does state that a person won't be prosecuted for anti-gay speech "if, in good faith, he expressed ... an opinion based on a belief in a religious text." But at least one Saskatchewan court has already held that certain Bible passages expose homosexuals to hatred.

Even without C-250, London, Ontario, officials recently slapped a Christian mayor with a $10,000 fine for refusing to proclaim "Gay Pride Day." A Christian businessman in Toronto was fined $5,000 for refusing to print materials for a gay-rights group.

In light of C-250's passage, church-law analysts already are advising religious leaders on how to shield themselves. Attorney Bruce W. Long in a March issue of Church Law Bulletin wrote: "Churches and religious organizations may want to consider ... avoiding public criticisms of identifiable groups ... limiting opinions to private conversation, and if targeted or investigated, relying on the constitutional right to remain silent."

[Darksheare]

Then the gays should probably cease their hate attacks against an identifiable group.
Christians.

[MegaSilver]

I hope our Brothers and Sisters in Canada defy this nonsensical garbage. They will be better for it in the long run if they do.

[Paul Atreides]

Confessing his crime at a tearful press conference, Mr. Robinson dabbed his eyes with tissue and explained that he'd "just snapped" under stress.

I hear the same happened to Judy Garland, and Liza Minelli.

[Paul Atreides]

And, it will be extended to private conversations, before long.

[Servant of the 9]

Then the gays should probably cease their hate attacks against an identifiable group.
Christians.

Considering some of the things in the Bible, I doubt it is still legal to be a christian in Kanukistan.
It is almost certainly illegal to print or import bibles.

So9

[joesnuffy]

Evil hates good....Evil is so malajusted and deranged it drives men so insane and filled with hate that they would beat up on decent people engaged in peacefull activity screaming at them and calling them 'evil....and full of hate'....

It is the same kind of evil that drove the men of Sodom insane..so much so that when Lot was entertaining God's messengers the men of Sodom tried to break down Lot's doors demanding that Lot turn over his heavenly guests that the men of Sodom might 'Sodomize' them...

Lot refused....my guess is the men from Sodom began to rail against Lot ...calling him evil and full of hate ..that he would deny them what they considered (in their insane and deluded states) "their right" to sodomize anyone they felt like...

The bible states.. "Woe unto men when they call evil good and good evil"

[Sam Cree]

"Before C-250 it was already illegal to publish, distribute, mail, import, or speak any communication that could be perceived as promoting or inciting "hate" against "identifiable groups,"

They are pretty close to making it illegal to criticize a political "group."

[Darksheare]

YIKES!

[Phosgood]

"And, it will be extended to private conversations, before long"

And then private thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[muawiyah]

Looks like you're on to something. No doubt the politicians have that on their minds.

[Nickname]

The Communists must be proud.

See items 26 and 27:

26) Present Homosexuality, degeneracy, and promiscuity as "normal, natural, and healthy".

27) Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, which does not need a "religious crutch"

http://www.glennbeck.com/hots/printcommunistgoals.htm

[explodingspleen]

This legislation the gayest thing I have ever heard.

Better not criticize it. ;)

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

And, it will be extended to private conversations, before long.

Yes. The progression is predictable: "hate literature".....followed by "hate speech"......followed by "hate thought"....

People deserve the government they vote in.

[Red Boots]

limiting opinions to private conversation

I guess this means sermons are out...

[Paul Atreides]

Just think: If you and a friend are discussing The Bible, express a disapproval of homosexuality, and a member of the Fainting Couch Club overhears, you get sent to Room 101.

[mtbopfuyn]

"And, it will be extended to private conversations, before long" And then private thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then to the US.

[DemWatch]

Wow.

This makes me feel prouder than ever to be an American.

[Rebelbase]

" dozen masked men wearing military camouflage burst into a Christian meeting at a Calgary, Alberta, hotel. They beat sticks together, hoisted signs, and roared slogans, "

I've never heard of gay rights groups trying that in a southern Church.

[Esther Ruth]

"It is the same kind of evil that drove the men of Sodom insane..so much so that when Lot was entertaining God's messengers the men of Sodom tried to break down Lot's doors demanding that Lot turn over his heavenly guests that the men of Sodom might 'Sodomize' them..."

It is really quite unbelievable what happened... Lot even offered his daughters to these men of Sodom, to keep them away from the angels from God, it was so vile.... and then after God provides a way for Lot and his family, after everything they see, the angels say do not look back, and still his wife turns and looks back still desiring the evil behind her instead of the salvation that is ahead of her.

The 1966 film, The Bible, with George C Scott, Ava Gardner, Peter OToole is excellent and 'covers' the historical events of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in great depth and leaves quite an impression - an excellent movie. Maybe we could start shipping this movie by the thousands into Canada for them to see before someone tries to ban it. That these fines are actually being paid is UNREAL!!! WHY???