Opinion

Laurie’s Notes from the Supreme Court
October 6, 2004
[As posted to the egale-e listserv]

Hi All,

I just got back from the Supreme Court, and want to give a quick overview of the day’s events. The Court was packed. Luckily, a number of us got there early (one person got there at 4 am—I was a laggard at 7 am) and were able to sit in the main courtroom. They even gave us tickets, so we could get in and out—very nice. Several of the couples were there, as well as Gilles, Rev. Brent Hawkes, John Fisher, Craig Maynard, a contingent from Asian Canadians for Equal Marriage, and many others. And our secret weapon, Robbie Barnett-Kemper, made it in despite his cold.

Lots of press before the Court began the hearing. Both sides were well represented.

The hearing began at 9:30.

The first matter was Senator Ann Cools’ motion to appoint an amicus, i.e. someone to argue for the Queen against equal marriage. We thought this may take some time, but Chief Justice McLaughlin simply announced the Court would not grant that motion.

Today BC's highest court has given Canada Customs leave to appeal a legal funding ruling stemming from its latest obscenity battle with the Little Sister's.

Link: Little Sister's

Little Sister's is one of Canada's leading book stores serving the LGBTQ communities.

Little Sister's has been in a lengthy legal battle with Canada Customs for years as the Government agency has often kept material imported by Little Sister's describing it as obscene.

Our LGBTQ communities have fought long and hard for years in support of Little Sister's and it appears we will have to continue.

Please see the news story below.

Little Sisters appeal

(CKNW/AM980)

Little Sisters appeal

October, 06 - 10:58 AM

VANCOUVER (CKNW/AM980) -- BC's highest court has granted Canada Customs leave to appeal a legal funding ruling stemming from its latest obscenity battle with the Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium in Vancouver's West End.

Looking for health info on the internet. make sure the information you get is correct. Try going to the sites listed below first. These sites are reputable and provide links to other sites which they have approved.

• Canadian Health Network (Health Canada) www.canadian-health-network.ca
• Canadian Women’s Health Network www.cwhn.ca
• Healthfinder (U.S. Health & Human Services) www.healthfinder.gov

Check out How Good a Doctor Is the Net? at The Tyee

Rick

`Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple.
`I won't!' said Alice.
`Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved.

Alice In Wonderland
Lewis Carroll

Gag Laws by Michael Yoder

Back in the old days when there were no AIDS groups, the government had a problem. They recognized that there was a need to provide information about safer sex and condoms but were uncomfortable in using the language that was needed to get the message across.

So they funded AIDS groups to do it for them. And AIDS groups used common “swear” words to talk openly about sex and sexual behaviour. The government was a little squeamish, but they allowed it all because it had to happen. At the same time, charitable organizations had always seen a part of their role to be addressing the injustices that – gasp – even governments perpetrate.

After a while, the governments had a problem with these groups buzzing around them like flies and complaining about decisions that were being made that affected the lives of clients. Funding was still offered but governments decided to swat the flies a little.

Guarding gay and lesbian rights

Guarding gay and lesbian rights The Toronto Star

The Toronto Star

An Ontario court made history this week by granting a lesbian couple what may be the first same-sex divorce in the world. What also makes this case notable is that it had to be brought at all.

Gays and lesbians have had to turn repeatedly to the courts to eke out equality rights because politicians have not had the courage to address them. But after they won the right to marry last summer in Ontario, the right to part ways should not, logically, have been far behind.

The logical thing did not happen here. The provincial appeal court that struck down the heterosexual definition of "spouse" in the marriage law did not do the same for the Divorce Act. Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, who conceded this summer that the divorce law was unconstitutional, took no steps to amend it.

Holding Power Accountable for Global AIDS

The author of ‘The Invisible People’ on do-nothing leaders, drug companies, and how $10 billion could shift the ‘AIDS paradigm.’

Wed., Aug. 18, 2004 The Tyee

By Terrence McNally

AlterNet.org

During the past 20 years, more than 65 million people across the globe have become infected with HIV. Around the world, 25 million have died – more than all of the battle deaths in the 20th century combined. By decade's end there will be an estimated 25 million AIDS orphans. If trends continue, by 2025, 250 million global HIV-AIDS cases are a distinct possibility.

According to Greg Behrman, author of The Invisible People: How The U.S. Has Slept Through The Global Aids Pandemic, The Greatest Humanitarian Catastrophe Of Our Time, the pandemic is reshaping the social, economic, and geopolitical dimensions of our world.

Lives of integrity
NAKED EYE / Coming out for Pride - and dignity

story by Gareth Kirkby, Managing editor / Xtra! West Aug 5 2004

My boyfriend left me alone over Pride. Well, not exactly alone: I was surrounded by more than 100,000 proud queers of all stripes on Pride day. And my Xtra West co-workers were at hand even as my gay friends left town for the weekend.

But my boyfriend—well, Felix was shepherding his family around and over the Rocky Mountains. They’re visiting from Hong Kong, you see—mom and dad, older brother and his wife and nine-year-old daughter. All in one van.

And Felix waiting for the right moment to come out. And scared about how they’ll react. You see, it’s a profoundly close-knit family in the way of so many Chinese families. Felix’s parents phone from Hong Kong for the smallest of reasons—to ask about the weather, to tell him what they’re eating, to check on the pronunciation of a word in English.

Xtra! West

Anal-sex charges continue
SETTING LOVE FREE / BC court finds law unconstitutional, but charges laid again

story by Garth Barriere / Xtra! West Jul 22 2004

Last summer the BC Court of Appeal decided that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was unconstitutional. A couple of months later, that same Court of Appeal decided that the anal intercourse law in our Criminal Code was also unconstitutional.

We celebrated the same-sex marriage decision but paid no attention to the anal intercourse decision. And yet same-sex marriage and anal intercourse are intimately related—and not only because there will be a lot of ass-fucking on our honeymoons. Through all the smoke and mirrors, disapproval of same-sex marriage has its source in the historic disapproval of homosexual sex and intimacy, especially the stigma against anal intercourse among men.

As US Supreme Court Justice Scalia said last summer in the Texas sodomy case, preserving the traditional institution of marriage is just a kinder way of describing the state’s moral disapproval of same-sex couples.

The Gay Men's Discussion group held on November 17 went off very well. We had quite a few members in attendance.

The discussion group usually focuses on a topical subject of interest. The group is usually quite casual, informative and allows for a chance to be with other gay and bi guys.

Some of the things we discussed Nov 17 were:

Coffee night - beginning a coffee night for guys one night a week. We will be scouting out local coffee places to secure a good location. We will also need a core group of two or three to take this on. Once we start the coffee night we need to be sure we keep it going.

Movie Night - This was a popular idea. We will be setting this up once a month. Movies and some snacks will be provided by Men's Wellness program. It looks like we may start off doing this in a different members home each month. To be aware of where the event is, you will need to be on the elist for Men's Wellness or contact me.

Coming Out Classes - This idea was discussed at length. It is clear the act of Coming out needs to be addressed. Men's Wellness will begin planning this for launch in February or March. Initial thoughts see this being a series of weekly classes for six to eight weeks.

I was in Nanaimo on Monday November 24. I was there for some office business, the opening of the AVI Health Centre.

While there I made a point of reconnecting with some gay guys I know from the area. I had some good coffee with three of them.

I was asking them what someone gay does to connect with other guys, find support, or just have fun. What do young guys do? What about gay couples? Gay HIV guys, how do they feel, find support or just get together with guys?

Where/what are the gay friendly joints for men? Where are the cruising spots? etc.

I had lots of questions. They had some answers for me. Guys meet on the internet, through informal networks, in Vancouver or Victoria, at 70 Below or Prism.

They laughed when I asked about support for those coming out or needing someone to talk too.

There are some supports in the straight community, if you want too or feel you can talk to them, and if you do have a network of gay friends you can call on them, other wise very little.