OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Ontario
Walk The Bridge In My Shoes: How Homophobia Affects Everyone
Twenty years ago today, Alain Brosseau was walking home from his job waiting tables at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa when he was attacked and killed by a group of men because they thought he was gay. He wasn’t.
To mark the tragic event, the Ottawa community is organising a show of solidarity called Walk The Bridge In My Shoes. It begins tonight at 7pm, starting with the viewing of a 1996 documentary at the National Art Gallery and concluding with a walk down the Alexandra Bridge, where Brosseau was dropped head-first onto a pile of rocks. Organisers encourage all participants to bring cell phones or flashlights to light up the bridge, while the Ottawa and Gatineau Chiefs of Police meet mid-way for a symbolic exchange.
Twenty years ago may seem like a while, but gay bashings are still a reality and you don’t need to be gay to become a victim. These incidents will not go unnoticed; homophobia needs to be nipped in the bud.
- Ceremony to mark 1989 fatal gay-bashing [CBC News]
Gay Altar Server Apalled After Being Fired
Here’s a neat lesson to start off your Friday: If you want to join a notoriously unwelcoming community, maybe try not to be surprised when you feel unwelcomed.
Jim Corcoran, a gay Catholic in Ontario, was shocked—shocked—to learn that he was removed from his church’s altar service after some of his fellow parishioners complained to the Diocese that a gay man was serving. Jim is now filing a human rights complaint against Bishop Nicola De Angelis for discrimination based on sexual orientation.
While Jim has every right to feel offended, his case will fail—if the Human Rights Tribunal even agrees to hear it at all. Churches, as private religious institutions, are exempt from having to conform to Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That means, legally, they can discriminate against whomever they please, so long as it’s within their own private institutions and not within the public sphere.
So, while firing Jim just for being gay wasn’t a moral thing to do, churches are allowed to act that way—and happily seize the opportunity.
It’s what Jesus would do, after all, I guess.
And a courtly tip o’ the hat to the always amazing Matt Guerin at Queer Liberal for the story.
- Gay altar server contests firing [National Post]
Toronto Anglicans Latest To Ponder Same-Sex Blessings
The gravely divided Anglican church is super interesting for some reason. The issue of same-sex blessings, of all things, has become the epicentre of a massive fracture, and their attempts to stay united has led to some of the most bizarre declarations I’ve heard from any religion.
Why, just in June, 2007, Canadian Anglican leaders congregated to discuss what to do about same-sex blessings and their divided church. After intense debate, they officially declared that same-sex unions are perfectly compatible with the core doctrine of the church. Hours later, they voted to forbid the blessing of same-sex couples.
Since then, several of Canada’s Anglican diocese have broken ranks with the church to bless same-sex parishioners. Toronto Anglicans are now about to join the Ottawa and Montréal diocese in allowing the blessing of same-sex couples. (And, just to be clear, we’re just talking about blessings here; not even marriage.)
But the church is in pretty rough shape. Priests have been fired, churches have split—with some opting to become part of the Anglican community located in the province of Southern Cone, South America. They’ve even barred some of their own bishops from attending conferences, all due to same-sex blessings.
From their actions, though, it seems they can all agree on at least one thing: This is definitely the best use of their resources. You know, instead of things like, oh… Housing the poor, tending to the sick, etcetera, etcetera…
- Toronto bishops propose process to allow same-sex blessings [Anglican Journal]
Entire Church Suspended For Hiring Gay Pastor
An entire Lutheran congregation in Newmarket, Ontario has been suspended over the hiring of a gay associate pastor.
Lionel Ketola, a gay, legally married man of faith, was ordained last May in a ceremony that drew more than 300 well-wishing parishoners. However, this did not sit well with Bishop Michael Pryse of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, who officially informed the Holy Cross Lutheran Church this week that they have been suspended over the hiring.
The Synod’s actions are reportedly based on a lesser known biblical passage: And Jesus gathered his followers and spoke to them: “Eeew! A gay! Could someone get him out of here, please? Anyone? Seriously, I’ll turn this church around and there’ll be no heaven for anyone. There we go; thank you, sir.”
- Congregation punished for hiring married gay pastor [The Record]
Candidate Declares That Gays Should Be Killed
An independent candidate in Sudbury, Ontario shocked an audience of high school students during a federal election debate by calling for the murder of all gay people.
David Popescu made the comments in response to a audience member’s question about same-sex marriage. Many in the audience were reported to have risen to their feet in disgust, while the other candidates from the Liberal, NDP, and First Peoples National Party watched in stunned silence.
In a telephone interview with The Sudbury Star, Popescu unabashedly re-iterated his position, indeed promoting the murder of every gay person:
A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed. My whole reason for running is the Bible and the Bible couldn’t be more clear on that point.
What a miserable, small man.
Inciting hatred and calling for the murder of identifiable groups is illegal in Canada, and Sudbury police started their investigation within hours of the debate.
While Popescu’s behaviour requires punishment by law, Sudbury Secondary School deserves strong condemnation for their lax reaction and for refusing to clarify whether or not they would allow Popescu to speak at the school again. Principal Paul Camillo said that the school “respect[s] all other opinions, although we may not agree with them.” What a cowardly, disgusting stance in the face of an invited potential policymaker who directly called for the execution of a large number of the school’s students.
- Kill gays, candidate says [The Sudbury Star]
Businesses Battle Over Ottawa’s Gay Village
Plans to turn six blocks of Ottawa’s Bank Street into a gay village have been put on hold after contradicting surveys put a chill on the proposal. Two surveys commissioned by the Bank Street Promenade Business Improvement Area failed to conclusively state whether or not area businesses would be open to branding the street as a gay neighbourhood. The first survey suggested that 75% of business owners in the area opposed the idea, while the second suggested that 73% were in favour.
Other cities, such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montréal have thriving gay villages which draw tourists and have revitalized what would otherwise be rundown neighbourhoods. However, these areas generally formed organically on their own without surveys and committees drafting up plans for a tourism boost.
Still, I’m not sure I buy all the opponents’ excuses. A spokesperson for the Bank Street Promenade said that some businesses were concerned that branding the neighbourhood would pigeon-hole them, saying “they feel they needed a policy that would not convey any special status or treatment or benefit of one group over another.”
You know, because all the Chinatowns, Latin Quarters, and Little Italy’s worldwide are totally about favouritism, right?
- Gay village bid set back by clashing surveys [The Ottawa Citizen]
Ontario Judge Makes Witness Wear HIV Mask
An Ontario judge is facing a misconduct investigation after he forced a sexual assault victim to wear a mask, fearing that he’d contract AIDS without it.
The witness, who is HIV-positive and has Hepatitis C, was not permitted to testify until Justice Jon-Jo Douglas was satisfied that the courtroom’s “saftey and integrity” was protected. This included ordering all court staff to wear rubber gloves and placing all documents handled by the witness into plastic bags.
Quotes from the courtroom transcript reveal Judge Douglas’ astonishing ignorance:
I am frankly shocked that in this day and age we were not advised [about the witness' HIV status]. The HIV virus will live in a dried state for year after year after year and only needs moisture to reactivate itself.
I mean, [the witness] speaks within two feet of me with two serious infectious diseases. Either you mask your witness and/or move us to another courtroom or we do not proceed.
Bluma Brenner, an assistant professor at McGill’s AIDS clinic, called the judge’s claims about dried HIV re-activation “outlandish.” The witness’ lawyer also took offense, adding that a mask was not required in the community and could interfere with the court reporter.
Ontario’s Criminal Lawyers Association, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and the HIV and AIDS Legal Clinic in Ontario have all lodged formal complaints against the judge. The Crown has also appealed to have the judge removed from the case over apparent bias.
As for Judge Douglas’ wishes to ensure the safety and integrity of the courtroom, I can offer a little advice: Sanding down sharp corners and ensuring non-excessive microphone volume levels will make any courtroom a safer place to work. Restoring integrity, on the other hand…
- Judge’s ignorance of AIDS draws fire [Toronto Star]
Anti-Gay Group Bans Diversity Book From Schools
A teacher’s resource book has been removed from staff rooms in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board after an anti-gay group, Defend Traditional Marriage and Family, lobbied to have it pulled.
The book, entitled Open Minds to Equality, advises on how to deal with ageism, sexism, and homophobia in schools. While the resource was available for teachers to consult, it was not required reading, nor accessible by students directly.
Jack Fonseca, a spokesperson for Defend Traditional Marriage and Family, was thrilled by his lobbying victory:
[The removal] will make it more difficult for the book to get into the hands of teachers who might’ve been misled by the flawed lessons within.
So, what “flawed lessions” might these be?
Prior to the censorship decision, Fonseca was unable to present anything demonstrative of his rhetoric, only saying that the book “could have the effect of encouraging students and teachers to view the gay lifestyle as being morally neutral,” and adding “they will have been led to reject Jesus.” In an open letter, however, the group said that “the effect of this book is to indoctrinate teachers and children to accept and celebrate homosexuality under the guise of ‘diversity’ and ‘equality.’”
It’s clear from the language used by Defend Traditional Marriage and Family that they are incapable of distinguishing a “morally neutral” presentation of homosexuality from one that “indoctrinates” and “celebrates” the “rejection of Jesus.” When convinced, however, that there is no such thing as gay people—only straight people who are sinning—that’s enough for them to expend great effort ensuring teachers do not even have the option of consulting resources to help them deal with issues that gay students face.
What a sad state of affairs. It’s no wonder Catholic teachers feel they must hide their student compassion from these groups.
Incidentally, of the lobby group’s executive members, only 6 indicated that they support the Catholic School Board on the voter list, and none of the 11 members have their children enrolled in the system. Could all this hoopla over a rarely-consulted resource book be ostensible rhetoric for a larger anti-gay agenda? I think I’ll let Catholic board spokesperson John Shewchuk’s jugement stand on this one: “It seems fairly obvious this group isn’t as concerned about Catholic schools and Catholic education as they would have local Catholics believe.”
The board has kept the book available in a central teacher’s resource library.
- Book yanked from school shelves [The Record]
- Catholic school cautious in approach [The Record]
Another Priest Suspended For Same-Sex Wedding
OK, I’ve lost count.
Reverend Michael Bury from St. John the Evangelist church in Stirling, Ontario has had his marriage license suspended after performing a same-sex marriage back in August. As an added measure, he has been ordered not to attend church until January.
The man is on medical leave.
Reverend Bury, of course, is definitely not the first priest to be disciplined for supporting his gay parishioners. And, as is the case here, most of the disciplinary actions have come from the Anglican church, which has been oddly contradictory about gay blessings recently.
In June, the General Synod decreed that blessing same-sex couples did not conflict with church doctrine, then promptly voted to ban the practice. This month, the Ontario and Montréal dioceses voted to allow same-sex blessings.
Hmm… Reverend Bury is from Ontario; I guess this makes their decision non-retroactive.
Well, until Friday, have a safe and happy Halloween! If you don’t have a costume yet, here’s an idea: Go as a wacky contradiction! Just fine some Anglican garb and…
- Ontario priest disciplined for marrying same-sex couple [Anglican Journal]
Dyke March Posters Vandalized
An Ottawa vandal has been searching out and defacing posters promoting the city’s annual Dyke March. The posters, which encouraged people to support the march and attend the family BBQ and concert afterwards, had crosses scratched over faces in black marker, accompanied by the words “sin” and “repent.”
Attendance of the march was decimated due to the vandal’s actions.
…
Nah, I’m totally kidding! The vandal wasted a Sharpie.
- More posters vandalized in leadup to big weekend [Capital Xtra]
Government Makes Anti-Gay Wikipedia Edits
Office computers belonging to the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa have been used to vandalize Wikipedia articles with anti-gay comments. (Wikipedia, for the benefit of the recently non-comatose, is an online encyclopedia to which anyone can contribute.)
A reporter for the St. Catharine’s Standard found several anti-gay themed edits—including one asserting that a Conservative MP who voted in favour of same-sex marriage was gay himself, and another declaring that Mussolini and Hitler were gay lovers.
A quick search using the Wikipedia Scanner revealed even more Parliament edits. One in particular, made to an article entitled Members of the 39th Canadian Parliament and same-sex marriage, replaced the unbiased phrase “opposite-sex marriage” with “normal and traditional marriage,” and the phrase “an anti- gay marriage website had indicated [...]” with “a real marriage website had indicated [...]” The vandal also inserted a new sentence into the article: “However, it seems that the Canadian public is still firmly against same-sex marriage by a large majority.” A demonstrably false claim.
Each instance of vandalism was reverted almost immediately, as is the Wikipedia norm, but it’s great to know what our Government workers do with their our time, no?
- Beware of what you read on Wiki; Government computers used to make peculiar edits on website [St. Catharine's Standard]
Toronto Same-Sex Marriages Not Plummeting
Last June, Reuters announced that only a single Canadian same-sex marriage was performed in Toronto so far this year, compared to 107 last year. The anti-gay crowd has, of course, framed the article, surrounded it with candles and gold, and trotted it about the country chanting something along the lines of “I told you so!”
Why, just this month Barabara Kay—an editorialist for the National Post—declared: “The conclusion they can fairly draw from [Toronto's] stats is that gay marriage was never more than an ideological symbol.”
Now, ignoring for a moment that it doesn’t bloody-well matter how few Canadians apply for same-sex marriages—it’s about equality, not quantity—it turns out that Reuters got the statistics very wrong.
As of early August, 182 of the same-sex marriages issued in Toronto since January were registered to Canadian addresses, not just a lonely one; and, last year, 518 Canadian gay couples got hitched in the city, not 107.
- Where are all the gay brides and grooms? [National Post]
- Have gay Torontonians stopped marrying? [Macleans]
Gay-Friendly Churches To Ignore Blessing Ban
Despite last month’s decision by the Anglican Church to ban same-sex blessings, several brave churches are going ahead with the practice anyway.
Toronto’s Holy Trinity Church and Victoria’s St. Saviour’s Church have both declared their intentions to continue to bless same-sex couples against the rules of the national church, the latter saying that they even plan to full-out marry gay couples should the opportunity arise.
Of course, the hierarchy isn’t too happy. A senior Anglican official, under the protection of anonymity, said priests will be disciplined if they are too liberal with their blessings. And I think they mean business: Antonio Osorio, an Anglican priest, was issued a warning this month after blessing four same-sex couples, even though the blessing was simply a general blessing of members of the community. In the past year, two Anglican priests have even been ejected over the practice.
- Churches to defy same-sex ban [CBC News]
- Anglican priests set to defy same-sex blessing ban [Canada.com]
Man Pulls Son From School Over Gay Travel Agency
An Ontario man has pulled his son out of an Oshawa high school after learning the school’s student trip to Europe was booked by a gay and lesbian travel agency.
Dwight Budgell said he became worried when he was asked to make a cheque out to Rainbow High Vacations: “I clicked on [the website]; it’s the world’s largest gay and lesbian travel company.” Panicked, Budgell pulled his son from school entirely, fearing “the propaganda” of the trip and being “blackballed” by the school administration.
The school’s superintendant, Lou Vavougios, was rightfully confused by the action:
The board used an educational tours division that books everything and travels with the students.
Other than the ticket, there’s no other transaction with Rainbow High [Vacations]. It really doesn’t make a difference where you get your ticket from. It’s just a seat on a plane.
Despite Budgell’s drastic and confusing behaviour, he insists that he harbours no ill will toward gay people:
What they want to do with their own personal lifestyle, I don’t have a problem with it.
Oh, we believe you, Dwight… We believe you. (*cough* *bullcrap* *cough*)
- Travel agency prompts man to pull his son from school [Durham Region]
Toronto Wants More Gays
The city of Toronto has launched an expensive new ad campaign in hopes of attracting gay travelers. The campaign, whose tagline is “as gay as it gets,” is primarily targeted toward gays in the U.S.
In a completely unrelated story, Toronto’s CN Tower now lights up in rainbow colours at night, thanks to a sophisticated new LED system.
- T.O. aims to attract more gay tourists [Canoe]
- Toronto targets lucrative group: gay U.S. travellers [Globe and Mail]
- CN Tower to light up Toronto skyline [Canada.com]
Refugees, Flags, Censorship, and Constitutionality
Let’s do the follow-up thing today:
- Alvaro Orozco, the refugee who was denied Canadian citizenship because he didn’t look “gay enough” is still facing deportation to Nicaragua where homosexuality is illegal. The application to re-open his case was dismissed, but there’s still a chance he could file a standard application for immigration from within Canada on humanitarian grounds. Sadly, pretending to be gay to obtain refugee status is not uncommon, but the circumstances under which Orozco’s application was denied were downright silly.
- Niagara Falls officials have replaced the Pride flag that mysteriously vanished less than four hours after its raising ceremony. Thankfully they have “some ideas” to make sure this one stays put. At the top of the list: piping in Kylie Minogue to create an appropriate anti-heterosexual radius.
- The City of Ottawa has adopted policies ensuring that Capital Xtra, a gay community newspaper, cannot be censored from city community centres. The paper was removed from a public facility after Greg Evans, a local man, complained that his son could have seen it at basketball practice. Though the paper’s censorship was illegal, I can attest to the dangers of gay community newspapers: The last time I picked one up, I got a paper cut.
- The federal conservatives’ scrapping of the gay-friendly Court Challenges Program has turned out to be illegal. According to a report by the official languages commissioner, removing public funding to challenge unconstitutional laws violated Officials Languages Act. The government, in the interests of transparency and accountability, has not responded.
Well, have a great weekend kiddos!
Gay Publisher Vandalized Again
Poor Capital Xtra. The popular gay community newspaper just can’t get a break from vandalism. In the past few years, their distribution boxes have been spray painted, covered in slurs, bolted shut, robbed, illegally removed from public facilities, and now burned!
Over the Victoria Day long weekend, a vandal set fire to some of the magazine’s distribution boxes, ruining about 80 issues and damaging the metal and plexiglas.
In response to the continued defacements, the magazine has started a “very informal” adopt-a-box program. Each of the adorable purple boxes will get a reader volunteer to check up on it from time to time. As with real children, adoptive parents are to report back if their baby gets spray painted, covered in slurs, bolted shut, robbed, illegally removed from public facilities, or burned.
- Vandals set Capital Xtra boxes on fire [Capital Xtra]
Toronto Councilor Explodes Over Gay Pride Funding
Rob Ford, a Toronto city councilor, has once again burst an eye vessel over gay issues at a city council meeting. Here’s what our delightful urban hayseed had to say before voting against the funding of Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade:
I don’t think we should be supporting sexuality and that’s where this money is going. That’s what we’re supporting here, madam chair. I don’t believe we should be spending taxpayers’ money supporting your sexuality! If you’re gay great. If you’re not gay, that’s great too. That’s your prerogative. Do we have a straight parade? Do we have a heterosexual parade? Do we fund that? No! So I don’t know why we’re funding other things like that.
A heterosexual parade, eh? Now that would be a spectacle. All those straight couples holding hands in public, flaunting their babies for all to see…
Here’s the thing: Rob doesn’t know what a gay pride parade is. The reason straight pride festivals don’t exist is because it’s not about “supporting sexuality.” Pride parades exist because pride is the opposite of shame—which is what many would still have us feel.
If Rob had ever been to a gay pride parade, he’d note its highly political nature, with groups representing equality advocacy organisations, help for struggling teens, parent support systems, MPs and MLAs, educators, councilors, researchers, corporate sponsors, sport teams, music and theatre groups, veterans, and many others. It promotes diversity, celebrates culture, and—as in the case of Toronto—can be one of a city’s most successful tourist attractions. Of course, I don’t expect Rob to get this any time soon.
Ford was featured on this site last year for voting against AIDS education programs, announcing: “[if] you’re not gay, you won’t get AIDS”. He later apologised, blaming his outburst on “one too many beers.”
Incidentally, the funding for Toronto’s Pride Parade passed overwhelmingly, 36–2.
- Ford slams city for PRIDE grant [Mirror Guardian]
Ottawa Employees Circulate Homophobic Email
The city of Ottawa is investigating two of its senior employees after a vulgar joke was emailed to staff members. The email, titled “Gentlemen, it’s time for your annual ‘Am I Gay’ self-examination,” contained a series of quick tests to determine one’s own sexual orientation. This included such gems as: “If you have a cat, you are a Flaaaaming homo,” “if you know more than six names of colors [...] you might as well be handing out free passes to your ass,” and, for those that like lollipops, “you are in training to suck El Dicko and undeniably a fag.”
City Councillor Maria McRae called the emails hurtful and a blatant abuse of the city’s e-mail system. I call it a lame attempt at comedy. I mean, cats? Colours? Lollipops? There wasn’t even one Kylie reference! As a gay man, I’m insulted.
- Inbox outrage at City Hall [Ottawa SUN]
- Hunt under way for offensive City Hall e-mailers [Ottawa SUN]
Toronto Police Spied On Gays
The Toronto police used undercover detectives to spy on the city’s gay community throughout the 1980s, according to a surveillance report leaked to the media this week. Community members under surveillance included gay business owners, conference attendees, and candidates running for city council.
I’d tell you my thoughts on the matter, but this line’s not safe. If you want to learn more, meet me at the you-know-where at 11 pm tonight. Come alone.
Actually, on second thought, can we meet at noon instead? A bunch of movies came out, so I want to keep my evenings open. And maybe change you-know-where to Starbucks; I have a gift card that I need to use up and I hear their new orange mocha is amazing!
Chemical Attacks In Gay Village Going Uninvestigated
A noxious gas introduced into the ventilation systems of two gay bars in Toronto last weekend is going uninvestigated.
While evidence suggests an ammonia-based gas, which burned some patrons’ lungs for hours after they were evacuated, Toronto’s Sergeant Stan Belza said it was probably just pepper-spray: “We were called; people were finding it hard to breathe.” When asked about pending investigations, Belza said the case has been dropped.
Although this incident could have been a prank (or two consecutive accidents), I have to say the lack of response is a little worrying. I mean, ammonia odors are pretty common in straight bars, but this is the gay village.
- Gas attacks in the gay village? [Globe and Mail]
Toronto To Launch All-Gay Radio Station
Looks like the airwaves are about to get a little more gay next week!
Proud FM 103.9, an all-gay radio station, is set to launch Saturday in Toronto. While its signal strength is a relatively weak 50-watts, it is the first traditionally broadcasted, gay-themed radio station in Canada.
As typical for this sort of thing, the station has already faced its share of criticism. One financial partner has already withdrawn their backing, and Lorne Gunter, a columnist for the National Post, even suggested that the new station was awarded under anti-Christian pretenses:
[The CRTC] turned down a Catholic FM station for T.O. because it wouldn’t be diverse enough, even though it promised shows for 12 cultural groups in at least 11 different languages. Meanwhile, [Proud FM] was licensed to advance diversity, despite pledging to focus almost exclusively on gay issues.
Cute. Though, in reality, the Catholic FM station’s bid was on an entirely different frequency (101.3), which was ultimately awarded to CJSA-FM, a multi-cultural station.
Regardless of the bumps along the way, the station looks like it will be all ready for launch. So let me be the among the first to extend a hearty “G-G-G-Good Luck (Zap–Zap–Zap–Whoosh) to P-P-P-Proud FM (Eff-Emm): One-Oh-Three Point Niiiiine.”
- Proud FM to target gay and lesbian listeners [Globe and Mail]
- Radio Free Canada [Friends of Canadian Broadcasting]
Ottawa Illegally Pulls Gay Newspaper Distribution
Won’t someone please think of the children!?
An Ottawa city councilor is out to ban Capital Xtra, a weekly gay community newspaper, from being distributed in public after a father complained that his son saw an ad for a gay chat line at a local community centre. An ad! How awful!
The paper (which has already been the victim of mass-theft and defacement) was immediately pulled from the centre’s display case, and now the city is mulling over bylaws to prevent its distribution elsewhere. Greg Evans, the father, is encouraged by the city’s actions, but was pretty shaken up: “I sat there looking back and forth at the pictures and words at the kids’ basketball practice, and I thought, ‘this is wrong!’”
Gareth Kirkby, the editor of Capital Xtra, is furious:
Capital Xtra is not an adult publication. It is a community newspaper. The municipal government has no business restricting the content of community newspapers.
We at Capital Xtra are tired of being labeled obscene, or adult material, or even pornography. [...] It’s time city hall acknowledged that queer individuals, couples and families live throughout the city, use the full range of city services, and have the same rights to access their community newspaper of choice as is enjoyed by straight families.
Rusell Zinn, a lawyer for for the paper added that there are serious legal issues with the city’s actions, saying the paper’s removal “is not only illegal, but highly offensive to the city’s gay and lesbian community.”
As for the shattered family: There’s no word yet on how gay Greg’s son turned after seeing the ads, but—just to play it safe—he’ll probably subscribe to the Ottawa SUN, where his children can view ads for straight chat line, dating, and escort services.
- Gay publication Xtra peeved at centre censor [Ottawa SUN]
- Action Alert [Capital Xtra]
- Rights versus ‘wrong’ [Ottawa Citizen]
Crazy Vandal Attacks Gay Publisher
Poor Capital Xtra—the weekly, non-profit gay newspaper is being attacked again! Just one year after a 47-year old man was fined for bolting the publisher’s distribution boxes shut with power tools, dousing them in brown paint, and spray-painting “HIV” and swastikas on them, the paper’s distribution channel has been targeted again. This time, thousands of copies of the paper are being stolen from Ottawa’s downtown locations.
Gareth Kirkby, the managing editor of Xtra, invited the vandal or vandals to seek other channels for their message:
What is not right is for them to impose their views on our readership by restricting access to the papers. We have challenged them to write a letter to get it off their chest. We’ll even give them a column if they want.
In the meantime, readers are welcome to read Xtra online, or seek alternate publications for their news, such as, oh… I don’t know—Slap Upside The Head!
Uh, incidentally, I was at home at the time of the thefts. I don’t live in Ottawa. That’s pen ink on my fingers, not newsprint. My beautiful Xtra mosaic ceiling was assembled from issues donated by recycling centres. This interrogation is over!
- Gay weekly complains of hate crimes again [Ottawa Citizen]
