AlexMax
04-18-2004, 08:59 PM
Hate bill feared as threat to free speech
Inclusion of sexual orientation opposed by church groups
The Canadian Press
April 18, 2004
Fearing it will muzzle free speech and possibly outlaw the Bible, more than a thousand protesters took to Parliament Hill on Saturday to speak out against Bill C-250.
The bill would include sexual orientation in Canada's existing hate propaganda laws and is now before the Senate.
Protesters, many of whom had travelled from Toronto, want to make sure it dies there.
Rev. Dominic Tse, of a Chinese community church in Toronto, said he fears if the bill passes it will have a chilling effect on legitimate public debate.
"The Chinese culture has a long history of certain morals that we hold dearly, regardless of our religious affiliation," he said. "We believe some acts of sexual behaviour are immoral and we want to make sure we have the right to have public debate on these issues."
Tse said as members of a visible minority, they are firmly against any incitement of violence against any individual.
"We have that experience ourselves, so we know what it means," he said.
"We also know what it means to live under a society where you cannot speak your mind."
Wilma Henkelman of Ottawa is convinced the bill is treading on her Pentecostal faith.
"We can't announce what's in a Bible anymore," she said. "It's called a criminal act."
However, Laurie Arron, director of advocacy for Egale Canada, said the protest was not about freedom of religion.
"I think that's a misplaced fear that they have and a misunderstanding of the legislation," he said. "I think the people who have organized this rally have really misled the people in attendance. They tell them things like you're not going to be able to voice your opposition to equal marriage because of C-250."
He said the notion the proposed bill would stifle debate about same-sex marriage is almost "laughable."
"The threshold that the Criminal Code places on hate speech is so high that anybody expressing a religious opinion is not going to be caught by this law," Arron said, adding it requires a person to wilfully promote and spread the worst forms of hatred.
As Arron and other members of Egale stood arm in arm at the protest to show support for the bill, he said they wanted people to know it is about placing further limits on hate speech, not free speech.
"Gays and lesbians deserve the same protection as other victims of hate crimes," Arron said.
© The Edmonton Journal 2004
Honestly, what the hell is wrong with fundamentalists?
Inclusion of sexual orientation opposed by church groups
The Canadian Press
April 18, 2004
Fearing it will muzzle free speech and possibly outlaw the Bible, more than a thousand protesters took to Parliament Hill on Saturday to speak out against Bill C-250.
The bill would include sexual orientation in Canada's existing hate propaganda laws and is now before the Senate.
Protesters, many of whom had travelled from Toronto, want to make sure it dies there.
Rev. Dominic Tse, of a Chinese community church in Toronto, said he fears if the bill passes it will have a chilling effect on legitimate public debate.
"The Chinese culture has a long history of certain morals that we hold dearly, regardless of our religious affiliation," he said. "We believe some acts of sexual behaviour are immoral and we want to make sure we have the right to have public debate on these issues."
Tse said as members of a visible minority, they are firmly against any incitement of violence against any individual.
"We have that experience ourselves, so we know what it means," he said.
"We also know what it means to live under a society where you cannot speak your mind."
Wilma Henkelman of Ottawa is convinced the bill is treading on her Pentecostal faith.
"We can't announce what's in a Bible anymore," she said. "It's called a criminal act."
However, Laurie Arron, director of advocacy for Egale Canada, said the protest was not about freedom of religion.
"I think that's a misplaced fear that they have and a misunderstanding of the legislation," he said. "I think the people who have organized this rally have really misled the people in attendance. They tell them things like you're not going to be able to voice your opposition to equal marriage because of C-250."
He said the notion the proposed bill would stifle debate about same-sex marriage is almost "laughable."
"The threshold that the Criminal Code places on hate speech is so high that anybody expressing a religious opinion is not going to be caught by this law," Arron said, adding it requires a person to wilfully promote and spread the worst forms of hatred.
As Arron and other members of Egale stood arm in arm at the protest to show support for the bill, he said they wanted people to know it is about placing further limits on hate speech, not free speech.
"Gays and lesbians deserve the same protection as other victims of hate crimes," Arron said.
© The Edmonton Journal 2004
Honestly, what the hell is wrong with fundamentalists?