Silenced in Saskatchewan: Canadian gays to be protected by new hate crime bill

World ^ | March 1 issue | Edward E. Plowman

[Mr. Mulliner]

Silenced in Saskatchewan

Canada's new bill, C-250, would add homosexuals to groups protected from hate speech if approved

By Edward E. Plowman

Roman Catholic, evangelical, and other groups across a broad front in Canada are urging the defeat of Bill C-250 in parliament. Pushed by pro-gay interests and almost certain to pass, it would add "sexual orientation" to the list of protected groups in the "hate propaganda" sections of the country's criminal code.

All the groups say they oppose hate-motivated attacks and inciting hatred against anyone, but they warn the bill is too vague (it doesn't define hatred; judges will do that), it doesn't distinguish between the "person" and "sexual activity," and it trashes free-speech rights.

"This bill could silence reasonable public discussion about the immorality of certain sexual practices and even implicate the Bible," warned Bruce Clemenger of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

Indeed, that has already happened: A federal court in Saskatchewan ruled in December that the Bible amounted to hate literature. The decision received next to no notice in the nation's press. The case involved Hugh Owens of Regina, who ran an ad in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on Gay Pride Day in 1997. It featured only four Bible references (Romans 1:26-32, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 21:13, and 1 Corinthians 6:9) without quoting from them, an equal sign, and two stick men holding hands inside a red circle with a diagonal slash through it—similar to highway and street signs forbidding certain actions. Mr. Owens said he was seeking to draw the public's attention to biblical teaching about homosexuality.

Three homosexuals sued Mr. Owens and the newspaper under the provincial human-rights code. It forbids publication of text and symbols that would expose people to hatred, ridicule, or "affront of dignity" on account of their sexual orientation. A one-woman panel of the human-rights commission ruled in their favor, saying the inclusion of Bible verses elevated the ad to violation of the code. She ordered Mr. Owens and the newspaper to pay each man $1,500 (WORLD, July 21, 2001).

The federal court rejected Mr. Owens's appeal in December, noting that "the biblical passage which suggests that if a man lies with a man they must be put to death exposes homosexuals to hatred."

If Bill C-250 becomes part of Canada's criminal code, preachers had better consult their lawyers before going into the pulpit to discuss homosexual behavior as sinful or read Bible verses dealing with homosexuality.

[Mr. Mulliner]

This last paragraphs highlights the Orwellian nature of this proposed bill.

If Bill C-250 becomes part of Canada's criminal code, preachers had better consult their lawyers before going into the pulpit to discuss homosexual behavior as sinful or read Bible verses dealing with homosexuality.

[Morrigan]

I don't agree with this. The only thing I agree with regarding gays is strong prosecution of violent crimes against them, just like I support strong prosecution of violent crimes against others. This hate speech "law" is just crazy.

[Mr. Mulliner]

index

[upchuck]

A federal court in Saskatchewan ruled in December that the Bible amounted to hate literature.

Sad.

[Jhoffa_]

Only canada would put the right not to be offended above the right of Religious freedom.

And don't laugh, because this will happen here also at some point. It's already beginning with "hate" crime and "hate" speech laws.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

The Lumberjack Song

Monty Python

Refrain:

Oh...
I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay;
I sleeps at night and I works all day.

Verses:

I cut down trees
I eat my lunch
I go to the la-va-tree
On Wednesdays I go shopping,
and have buttered scones for tea.

(Refrain)

I cut down trees
I skip and jump
I like to press wild flowers
I put on women's clothing
and hang around bars

(Refrain)

I cut down trees
I wear high heels
suspenders and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear pa-pa!

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Lumberjack Song
Composers: Terry Jones, Michael Palin, & Fred Tomlinson
Authors: Terry Jones & Michael Palin
Arranger: Fred Tomlinson
Lead Singer: Michael Palin
From the TV Series and featured on various albums

BARBER:
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay.
I sleep all night and I work all day.
MOUNTIES:
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch.
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shoppin'
And has buttered scones for tea.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Papa.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He wears high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra?!
[talking]
What's this? Wants to be a girlie?! Oh, My!
And I thought you were so rugged! Poofter!
[singing]
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okaaaaay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

[Brian Allen]

<< Lumberjack Song
Composers: Terry Jones, Michael Palin, & Fred Tomlinson
Authors: Terry Jones & Michael Palin
Arranger: Fred Tomlinson
Lead Singer: Michael Palin
From the TV Series and featured on various albums

BARBER:
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay.
I sleep all night and I work all day.
MOUNTIES:
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch.
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shoppin'
And has buttered scones for tea.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
BARBER:
I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Papa.
MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He wears high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra?!
[talking]
What's this? Wants to be a girlie?! Oh, My!
And I thought you were so rugged! Poofter!
[singing]
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okaaaaay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day. >>

And to think that the endemically Psychopathological Projection Syndrome-suffering lunatic left-wing fringers and other DNC-styled haters "feel" that we; who roll on the floor in paroxysms of almost-out of control mirth at the antics of Palin, Cleese et al; are the mean-spirited ones?

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh .......

[Hawkeye's Girl]

And don't laugh, because this will happen here also at some point.

I don't see it getting anywhere. The majority of high schoolers and college students frequently use the word "gay" to mean lame or disgusting. It's a backlash to exactly this type of crap.