OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Prince Edward Island
Catholic Bishop Inches In Right Direction
A Catholic bishop from Prince Edward Island has publicly condemned a violent crime that left a gay couple homeless last month. The couple’s home was burned down in late October in what evidence suggests to be a homophobic hate crime.
In a rare denunciation, bishop Richard Grecco had some harsh words for religiously-motivated hate crimes. “Hatred,” he said, “is a sin and any action that comes out of hatred is not only a sin, but in this case a crime and it must be denounced by all churches.” He continued further, “anybody that claims to perpetrate these kinds of hate crimes in the name of religion—what they’re doing is abusing and misusing religion and doing it harm.”
Shockingly well put from a Catholic bishop; although, in the interest of disclosure, I can’t be fully certain that “Catholic” wasn’t a typo. We could, in fact, be speaking of a bishop from a more progressive church who cares for an excessive quantity of feline companions—a cataholic.
Either way, drawing the attention of religious moderates to the atrocities being committed against the GLBT community is exactly what needs to be done, so—if this guy doesn’t, in fact, just have a lot of cats—I’m pleasantly surprised that the Catholic church has actually come out against this crime so publicly.
Well, maybe pleasantly is too strong a qualifier.
Let’s not kid ourselves. The Catholic church is one of the greatest contributers to an atmosphere in which homophobia thrives. Doomsday rhetoric about how we gays are destroying families, society, probably Earth, and then recruiting children to an eternity of hellfire necessarily leads to these kinds of violent reactions in the first place. The bishop’s condemnation, while welcome, is a little like a guillotine pullstring manufacturer strongly condemning the atrocious use of guillotines.
One particularly telling phrase shows that Grecco still doesn’t get it. Speaking to the media, he said that parishioners should still love those with lifestyles they disagree with. The thing is, sexual orientation is a trait, not a choice, and is no more a lifestyle than the left-handed lifestyle or the brunette lifestyle. When the church defines all natural expressions of an innate identity as a sin and then decries that sin as being responsible for all sorts of impossible consequences, they’re in no position to objectively condemn homophobic violence. Not yet, anyway. They need to reform their attitudes first and resolve their ancient doctrine with modern knowledge of reality. Until then, I’m afraid no amount of kitten foster care will change that.
- P.E.I. bishop condemns alleged hate crime [CBC News]
PEI Arson May Be Homophobic Hate Crime
Despicable news from the east coast: Early last week, a gay couple living in Little Pond, Price Edward Island had an incendiary device thrown through their window in the middle of the night. While their house burned to the ground, the couple had to escape through a window, not knowing if anyone was outside to harm them. It took twenty firefighters nearly two hours to stop the flames.
Neighbours suspect the attack was a hate crime, as the gay couple’s mailbox had been set on fire a week earlier and the couple had previously complained about an anonymous harasser. Police have confirmed that they are treating the fire as arson, but haven’t found any suspects.
The community reaction to the crime has been swift and compassionate, but the couple, who has not been identified by the media, is understandably terrified. They asked a neighbour to accompany them when returning to the site of the fire to search for belongings, since they were too scared to go by themselves.
Here’s hoping the suspects are found. There is absolutely no room for this sort of hateful violence in Canada. In the meantime, anyone with information about the attacks is asked to contact the Kings District RCMP.
Special thanks to Slap reader Matthew, and everyone else who sent in this story.
- Co-ordinator says fire highlights homophobia on PEI [The Guardian]
- P.E.I. town fears fire was hate crime [CBC News]
PEI Finally Puts Same-Sex Marriage On The Books
Prince Edward Island finally updated their lawbooks over the holidays in recognition of same-sex couples for 29 pieces of legislation. While same-sex marriages have been legal in the province since federal law changed in 2006, spouses were still referred to as “husband and wife” and “man and woman” in provincial documents and laws until now.
There was no reason given for the nearly four year delay, but the change means that vital statistics, birth certificates, and other provincial documents and departments will now have accurate data.
Well, I’m glad to see you’ve joined the rest of the country, Island! (I can call you Island for short, right?)
Male Strippers Anger Legion Member
A group of male strippers from Las Vegas danced for a Legion fundraiser in Prince Edward Island last week, prompting one member to complain to the media. The dancers, who stripped down to their undies for an audience of cheering women (and some cheering men) were booked by the Legion, who called the event a great success.
28 year-old Legion member, Wallace MacAusland, however, was disgusted and angry. While he made a special point of mentioning that he didn’t actually attend the event, he said a friend in attendance was so disgusted that she left after 40 minutes. (That, of course, being how long it takes to exceed your tolerance for the strip show that you paid to attend…)
MacAusland is now demanding that the Legion apologise to… themselves, I guess, for allowing strippers into their own club, or he will tear up his membership.
Legion manager Robert Palmer said the fundraiser was a hit, and that they will book the Las Vegas troupe again.
- Strippers anger P.E.I. Legion member [CBC News]
P.E.I. To Finally Recognize Same-Sex Marriage
No, that’s not an old headline or a misprint. Prince Edward Island, the place that brought us the book that inspired just about every gay bed and breakfast out there, is finally updating the law books to officially recognize same-sex marriages.
P.E.I. was one of only two provinces in Canada to deny same-sex marriage before the federal Bill C-32 was passed in 2005. After that, gay people could get married in the province, but they didn’t have the same legal status as opposite-sex unions. All of that’s changing with the introduction of new legislation that passed through all three readings on Wednesday.
Attorney General Gerard Greenan responded to questions of why the process took so long:
Honestly, it certainly was a task. It took seven months to put this bill into place.
Well, that, and I guess an additional two-and-a-half years to take their eyes off the breathtaking scenery and start the process in the first place. It’s the P.E.I. curse, I suppose.
So, to all the happily married couples in P.E.I., congratulations on officially getting your hospital visitation and power of attorney rights!
- P.E.I. to recognize same-sex marriages [National Post]
PEI Courts Gay Tourism
Prince Edward Island’s tourism department is searching for gay couples to model for some upcoming advertisements designed to bring in the ol’ pink tourism dollars. Like Toronto and Calgary‘s recent campaigns, PEI is trying to market itself as a gay-friendly vacation spot. One small hitch: Potential gay tourists may not have forgotten the nationally-reported incident in which a couple was turned away from their reserved bed and breakfast after the owner discovered they were gay.
- Tourism PEI considers gay couples for ads [CBC News]
P.E.I. Gets Private Marriage Commissioners
Prince Edward Island has finally allowed private marriage commissioners to perform marriages in the province, and the first such commissioner, Jim Culbert, was very proud to have his first ceremony be a same-sex marriage!
It’s great to be able to see people finally getting things that they really would like in their life and not have to hide about it. You know, they can be openly married and go home and say, “Hey, you know, we really are people.”
This wonderful attitude is a far cry from Alberta, which almost passed legislation this spring that would have made commissioner discrimination against gay and lesbian couples perfectly legal. So, congratulations to Jim, the new couple, and Prince Edward Island! Here’s to not being crazy bigots!
