QUEER LIBERALS (TORONTO REGION)

Queer Grits
IN THIS ISSUE

Issue 2012-02

A busy month indeed!

Since our first newsletter, released only one short month ago, we have attended and submitted a resolution at the LPC(O) AGM, attended the OYL AGM, enjoyed an evening and a brunch with Scott Brison, took in the Past Rebuilding event and the Cambridge-Kitchener-Waterloo Tri-Pride; we submitted a statement of support for Bill 13 and saw that Bill passed, we received a letter of support from our ever supportive interim-leader Bob Rae, hosted a Queer Liberal Pub and Trivia Night, welcomed the launch of the Queer Liberals, South West Ontario (with Ottawa and Montreal hopefully not far behind), been called upon to lend a hand in a Calgary by-election, and we have tweeted, facebooked, and emailed our little hearts out. We have networked, made friends, and been everywhere. So, are we taking the summer off now? Not quite. There is more to come, not least of all: Toronto PRIDE!

Our Government did not choose to free speech; it chose to free hate. We will fight to ensure adequate protections from hate. True justice demands it. page 2 Will you join us? Hate propoganda represents a serious threat to society. It undermines the dignity and self-worth of target group members and more generally, contributes to disharmonious relations among various racial, cultural and religious groups, as a result eroding the tolerance and open-mindedness that must flourish in a multicultural society which is committed to the idea of equality. Supreme Court of Canada, in Canada (Human Rights Commission) v Taylor

Requiem for Section 13

Tri Pride

Also in this issue:

- Past Rebuilding - QL in the News - Quick Facts - Be it Resolved !

Toronto Queer Liberals head out to CambridgeKitchener-Waterloo page 3 page 4 page 5

A word from Bob

The LPC Leader voices his support for QL page 6

Accepting Schools Act Passes!

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Requiem for Section 13

by Phillipe Murphy-Rheaume

Watch for a Queer Liberal spearheaded: Campaign for a Just Society

On Wednesday, June 6th, the dream of a Just Society in Canada grew dimmer still with the passage in the House of Commons of Bill c-304, an act repealing Section 13, among others, of the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA). Introduced in Parliament in October 2011 as a private members bill by Conservative MP Brian Storseth, Bill c-304 - An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act - vaingloriously nicknamed Protecting Freedom, will limit prosecutions of hate speech in Canada by forcing victims to seek recourse under the Criminal Code. The Criminal Code is not well equipped to deal with matters of hate speech. Sections 318 to 320 of the code which relate to hate speech effectively limit corrective action to inciting hatred towards specified protected groups. Such narrow definitions ensure that very few prosecutions will occur and hate speech in Canada will be unfettered unless it specifically calls for violence against minorities. Furthermore, discrimination stemming from opinions based on a religious text is considered a legitimate defense under Section 320 of the Code. Prosecutions are also subject to Attorney General approval, further limiting victims recourse to justice through the Code and politicizing the social-conservative disdain for the protection of minority rights. Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act provides an alternative to the overburdened justice system and the strict definitions of hate speech laws under the Criminal Code. Empowered to investigate claims of discrimination under the Act, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) bases itself on principles of conciliation and mediation. The CHRC presents an avenue through which targets of online hate can seek redress. Investigations made by the CHRC allow for both claimants and respondents to present evidence and provide responses to claims made. Once an investigation is complete, the CHRC makes a recommendation to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) on whether the case should be considered. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) is an adjudicative body which considers cases recommended by the CHRC, including Section 13 cases. It conducts hearings and makes a decision based on the application of the law following the impartial examination of the evidence presented by the complainant and the respondent. The CHRC and CRHT, have been maligned by misconceptions and false truths put out by their detractors. These quasi-judicial bodies, like so many others operating in Canada and the provinces, allow for a more efficient, expeditious and accessible form of justice to take place, adjudicated by experts in the field. To suggest that they are all-powerful and unaccountable bodies is unreflective of reality. CRHT decisions are reviewable by the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and ultimately, by the Supreme Court of Canada. Bill c-304 opens the door for hate of all kind to be spread online with impunity. Although imperfect in its application, Section 13 offered a means of settling manners in a generally conciliatory fashion and empowered the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to issue cease and desist orders to posters of online hate. Most importantly, Section 13 sent a clear message that hatred is not to be tolerated in a diverse and multicultural Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed that freedom of speech is not without its limits; there may be, to paraphrase the Constitution, reasonable limitations to any right in Canada given a sound justification for doing so in a free and democratic society. Stamping out hate and protecting the integrity of Canadian society from the divisive language of anti-Semites, racists, sexists, homophobes and other peddlers of hate is a sound enough justification for restricting free speech. Conservatives chose to side with the freedoms of expression for hate mongers over the freedoms of upstanding Canadian minorities. This week, our Government did not choose to free speech; it chose to free hate. Unless we work to reverse this, we as a society will suffer for it. The time has come to stand up and defend the integrity of Canadian society. We will fight to ensure adequate protections from hate. True justice demands it. Will you join us? Email: queerliberals@gmail.com to get involved

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Queer Liberals at Tri Pride!

Upcoming Toronto Pride Events!
Trans March: Friday June 29th at 7:30pm Dyke March: Saturday June 30th at 1:00pm Pride Parade: Sunday July 1, at 1:30pm
QL Co-President Penny Beams with the local colour: RED and PROUD!

To VOLUNTEER during the Community Fair on Saturday and Sunday, or to PARTICIPATE in any of the above, please email us.

Queer Liberals (South West Ontario) Chapter Launch!

Brad Rubinoff and other Liberals wearing Liberal and Pride colours at the LPO Booth, Above-right: QL Co-Presidents Brad and Penny with fellow Liberal Pride revelers at Tri Pride

Pictured here at Me & Suzies patio in Port Stanley are (left to right) Richard Francella, Jessica Stark, Peter Maloney (hidden-sorry Peter well do better next time) Kimberley Love, Cole Davidson, Frank Find us on facebook! Tersigni, Sam Miceli. We are thrilled for the new Queer Liberals Share your wealth with QL by donating at: chapter to be up and running and look forward to continuing to queerliberals.nationbuilder.com/donation work together. Congratulations! Follow us on twitter: queerliberals

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Bill 13, Accepting Schools Act Passes!

It is said that children are our future; that future looks just a bit brighter now that Bill 13 has been passed by a vote of 65 to 36. It's a great relief to know that the government stands with the LGBT community to create a supportive environment for ALL students based on progressive values and human rights. Beginning with the upcoming school year students will be able to name their groups as they choose, and it seems that the schools have accepted this. The Catholic School board opposing the matter had this to say after the passing: Recognizing that the Accepting Schools Act is now the law, Catholic partners will seek, as we have always done, in a way that is in accord with our faith, to foster safe and welcoming school communities. Queer Liberals, among many other groups, submitted a statement to the Standing Committee on Social Policy in support of Bill 13. We would like to thank all the other organizations who lent their support to the Ontario Government in passing this bill including the New Democratic Party, the Ontario GSA Coalition, and organizations such as Egale Canada, PFLAG, Centre For Inquiry Canada, Canadian Auto Workers, the Canadian Secular Alliance, the Rainbow Alliance, the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, along with all others who spoke up on this matter. This is some of what we said in our statement to the Committee: "Bill 13 doesn't do anything to our kids; it only catches us up to the better, more inclusive world that these kids are already creating. Supporting Bill 13 is not just about this one issue; it is about the recognizing the holistic nature of education and about empowering children today for the leaders of tomorrow we hope they will become."

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Quick Facts:
The Canadian Human Rights Act was passed in 1977, under the Liberal Government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, with the express objective of ensuring equal opportunity unhindered by discrimintory practices.

QL in the news:
On June 1st, political affairs commentator Zach Paikin had this to say about Queer Liberals on the well-known news and blog site, www.ipolitics.ca:

The Queer Liberals (QL) are on a mission to demonstrate that it is the Liberal Party that has done and will do the most for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Canadians. More importantly, they are on a mission to make the party fun again. From fun trivia and In 1996, the Liberal Government of pub nights to events celebrating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, QL has been more consistently active than most riding associations. Best of Jean Chrtien amended the Act to include sexual orientation as an enumer- all, its founders and most-involved members all emanate from the partys grassroots. ated ground of discrimination. Then, in 2001 the prohibition to communicate hate over the internet was added, also under the Liberal Government of Jean Chrtien. Now, in 2012, in the age of social me dia, and thanks to the Conservative Government of Stephen Harper, hate can once again be communicated over the internet. Why, thank you for noticing Zach. We certainly do try to keep it fun.

Be it resolved:
that the Liberal Party be made accessible to all. Good designers would likely agree that form should not be an obstacle to function. Therefore, let our form be clear and accessible so that we are all, regardless of our present preparation, circumstance or aptitude, free to function effectively within and move forward with, the Party. Thats the essence of a resolution proposed by Queer Liberals, and passed at the LPC(O) AGM. The LPC (O) has the stated goals of attracting new members and of encouraging the participation of non-members using the new Supporter Category. To facilitate this, the motion asked that the LPC (O) Executive Board commit to achieving those goals by ensuring that the structure, organization, make-up, and Constitution of the LPC (O) be made clear and accessible to all LPC (O) members, regardless of Party experience, age, level of education, technological ability, official language of choice or region of residence. The Executive Board, according to the resolution, shall be charged with delegating an authority to oversee the process of clarifying and making accessible the aforementioned aspects of the party. Furthermore, it is also to ensure that the roles and responsibilities of elected officials of the LPC (O) are publicly available. It certainly likely that those who understand the Partys workings will be more likely to support it, work with it, and join it, and that those who join it, will find space to grow within it. ((QL)) Thank you to Maryanne Kampouris, an advocate of ours, who spoke in support of the motion.

Past Rebuilding
event at YMCA on May 27th: Two themes of the day which resonated with Queer Liberal Co-Presidents Penny and Brad were that the party needs to engage with youth, and excel at issuesbased engagement. The Liberal Party has always succeeded when it focused on advancing clear, progressive policies that responded to issues of the time. Youth are often at the forefront of these issues. Queer Liberals have been tirelessly working on progressive responses to issues of the day and creatively re-engaging the LGBT community. When it comes to rebuilding were on it!

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Queer Liberals at Large Upcoming : The Red Ball

The Red Ball will be hosted by Robert Jubas and David Vallee on Wednesday June 27th from 6 to 9pm at 110 Charles Street East. Tickets are $85, or $35 for youth; a portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Ontario GSA Coalition. Please RSVP to queerliberals@gmail.com Buy tickets online at: http://queerliberals.nationbuilder.com/the_red_ball Red attire will not go unappreciated. Kindly note that parking will be extremly limited.

QL Director of Communications, Corey Turnbull, David Bertschi, QL Co-President Brad Lister, QL Director of Operations and Toronto Region Director Area 1 Kelly Foote, and Richard Francella at the QL pub at Quinns on the LPC (O) AGM

Upcoming : Cash Mob at Glad Day

From 1:00 to 3:00pm on Saturday June 23, Queer Liberals will be hosting a Cash Mob at Glad Day BookShop located at 598A Yonge Street. What is a Cash Mob you ask? Cash Mobs are a fun way to support a local business, network a little and come away with some products you will enjoy. At the mob, there are three rules: spend $20; meet three people you didnt know before; and HAVE FUN!!! Check out: http://cashmobs.wordpress.com and join our event page on facebook or email us for more information at queerliberals@gmail.com

Back, left to right, Kelly Foote, VP Policy for Trinity Spadina Ryan Davey, Corey Turnbull, Front, Brandon Sage and Brad Lister at the QL pub Quinns on the LPC (O) AGM weekend

Follow us on twitter: queerliberals Find us on facebook! Share your wealth with QL by donating at: queerliberals.nationbuilder.com/donation

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Queer Liberal Pub & Trivia

The night was a success thanks to Trivia Master Extraordinaire, Kelly Foote, and our generous sponsors,: Stout Irish Pub, Grant Street Caramel Co., and Jill Edmondson. We love you! Stout Irish Pub Located in the heart of Cabbagetown, Stout Irish Pub awaits the palates of beer connoisseurs. On tap, they feature the old-fashioned way of making beer by the Craft Brewers of Ontario. And with a focus on local fare, Stout also went back to the basics, promoting Ontario produce and meats on their menu. So stop by, sit near the fireplace and enjoy a traditional plate of comfort food with a pint of beer crafted from passion and quality. Visit Stout at 221 Carlton Street East, Toronto or on Facebook and www.stoutirishpub.ca Grant Street Caramel Co. Caramel produced the old-fashioned way using only natural and great tasting ingredients with one goal in mind: to provide the finest tasting caramels on the market today. Made in small batches using organic cane sugar and high quality, locally sourced dairy products, each caramel is then topped with a hint of sea-salt before it is individually wrapped. Grant Street Caramel Co. is based in Toronto and supplies caramels for gifts, corporate events, dinner parties, weddings, anniversaries, and all those other times that require a delicious treat. Visit Grant Street Caramel Co. at www.grantstcaramelco.com Jill Edmondson: Sasha Jackson Mysteries A huge supporter and friend of the Queer Liberals, Jill Edmondson is the author of Sasha Jackson Mysteries. Currently there are three in print, Blood and Groom, Dead Light District, and The Lies Have It, with two more on the way. Definitely check them out and see what the critics are raving about! Learn more about Sasha Jackson Mysteries by visiting http://jilledmondson.blogspot.ca/ or follow Jill at http://twitter.com/#!/jilledmondson

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