Queersetti
Bastardo Suave
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2003
- Posts
- 37,288
MPs extend hate protection to gays
Last Updated Wed, 17 Sep 2003 21:59:12
OTTAWA - Parliament voted Wednesday to extend hate-crimes protection to gays and lesbians.
MPs passed Bill C-250 by a vote of 143-110.
The code already made it illegal to incite hatred against an identifiable group based on colour, race, religion or ethnicity.
"The message that is sent out by the failure to include gay and lesbian people in hate propaganda legislation is that our lives aren't as valuable," said NDP MP Svend Robinson, author of the bill.
"If we're going to say no to the promotion of hatred and violence based on religion, colour, race and ethnic origin, surely we should say that gay bashing and promotion of hatred and violence against gay and lesbian people is just as unacceptable."
Opponents of the bill had complained that the legislation would stifle free speech, particularly among religious groups.
Some worried that passages in the Bible condemning homosexuality could be declared hate literature.
"We've seen through the courts that when religious freedom comes up against gay rights, that in fact religious freedom intends to be more often than not the loser in those particular cases," said Derek Rogusky, of the group Focus on the Family.
Supporters of the bill said fears about censorship are groundless and that C-250 isn't meant to infringe on anyone's freedom of religion.
The law carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Last Updated Wed, 17 Sep 2003 21:59:12
OTTAWA - Parliament voted Wednesday to extend hate-crimes protection to gays and lesbians.
MPs passed Bill C-250 by a vote of 143-110.
The code already made it illegal to incite hatred against an identifiable group based on colour, race, religion or ethnicity.
"The message that is sent out by the failure to include gay and lesbian people in hate propaganda legislation is that our lives aren't as valuable," said NDP MP Svend Robinson, author of the bill.
"If we're going to say no to the promotion of hatred and violence based on religion, colour, race and ethnic origin, surely we should say that gay bashing and promotion of hatred and violence against gay and lesbian people is just as unacceptable."
Opponents of the bill had complained that the legislation would stifle free speech, particularly among religious groups.
Some worried that passages in the Bible condemning homosexuality could be declared hate literature.
"We've seen through the courts that when religious freedom comes up against gay rights, that in fact religious freedom intends to be more often than not the loser in those particular cases," said Derek Rogusky, of the group Focus on the Family.
Supporters of the bill said fears about censorship are groundless and that C-250 isn't meant to infringe on anyone's freedom of religion.
The law carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Written by CBC News Online staff
