"our community lives in terror of even taking a short stroll with someone we love. Because we know that there are people who hate us, waiting to spill our blood."

In the United States in 1999, 16.7% of all reported hate crimes were based on sexual orientation - 1317 total incidents in all.
-Data taken from the FBI Hate Crimes Statistics

"We're talking about murder here....which you seem to be condoning by your avoidance and delay tactics.
What kind of 'justice' is this? How can you delay it for one more second? "

Between 1991 and 1999 in the United States, the incidents of reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation rose from 8.9% - 16.7%
Data taken from the FBI Hate Crimes Statistics

"No longer can segments of society be segrated and separated from the whole. As long as this kind of behaviour is condoned, it sends a strong message that we, as citizens of this country, are to be treated with disdain, with violence."

Letters to the former Justice Minister about Hate Crimes Legislation

Dear Minister:

We write to you with our heartfelt request that you take immediate action to end hate crime against the members of our community. Last week Mr. Aaron Webster was brutally murdered. He was killed for one reason only, he happened to be homosexual. This crime took place within five minutes of our home. Every weekend young thugs who are having their own sexual identity problems roam the west-end of Vancouver, looking for gays and lesbians to bash. Just a few months ago two women were attacked leaving a bar that catered to lesbians. I went to the court house to see what kind of people did these terrible things. In the waiting area I sat directly across from the culprits. They were young men in their early 20s, laughing and joking about their day in court. There were no signs of remorse. One wonders why, the answer is simple. They knew that their punishment would not fit the crime. Minister, our community lives in terror of even taking a short stroll with someone we love. Because we know that there are people who hate us, waiting to spill our blood. How many more Aaron Webster's must die before your government does the right thing. We urge you to act quickly to stop these senseless deaths.

Yours truly,

Lloyd Thornhill / Bob Peacock
Vancouver, BC
November 22, 2020

The Hon. Anne McLellan, PC, MP
Minister of Justice
House of Commons:

Since the November 17th vicious murder of gay Vancouver resident Aaron Webster, it has come to my attention that you have been very negligent in making the "necessary changes" you said you'd make in 1999 to the Criminal Code to protect gays and lesbians under hate propaganda laws. You said back then, that you'd make the changes "in the coming months", but you have done nothing! This is astounding.

Am I to assume from your appalling lack of action that you also hate gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered citizens? Why else would you not ammend the laws to include us in the federal hate propaganda laws, which as they still stand now, make it perfectly legal to promote hatred against me and those in my community? Why else would you make sure that the laws still say that gay-bashers can still rely on the 'homosexual panic' defence, claiming they were justified in committing murder because the victim 'came on' to them? Come on, please, let's reform that provocation law, now.

Since MP Svend Robinson had to bring the matter to your attention again, with his recently introduced Private Member's Bill to include sexual orientation within federal hate crimes laws, you say only that you "will reconsider" the issue and that you "need to consult with provincial Ministers". We're talking about murder here....which you seem to be condoning by your avoidance and delay tactics.
What kind of "justice" is this? How can you delay it for one more second?

I want some answers right away, and more than that, I want some action, right away! No more waffling around!
(Ms.) Robin Alys Roberts
Victoria B.C.
November 25, 2020

P.S. To give you some background, I would like to mention that I am an ESL teacher and writer; my partner is a geriatric nurse. We have been in a stable, loving, caring lesbian relationship for over 18 years. Together, my partner and I have brought up four children from the ages of 4, 5, 13 and 16; these wonderful citizens have grown into productive, loving adults. It was not easy for our children to deal with others' overt homophobia as they grew, although it was undoubtedly strengthening for them, and expanded their compassion. They remain close and comfortingly supportive to this day. It would have been so delightful if Canada could have been behind all of us in our love, instead of keeping us all on edge with defence laws that say homosexual hate crimes are okay, keeping us wondering where the next psychological or physical dagger was going to come from.

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you today to express my dismay and frustration at the inaction of this current government in doing the right thing.

My wife, Gail and I, are one of many couples seeking to have our same sex marriage recognized legally in this country.

And we are closely watching our elected and appointed officials to see just where their hearts lie. This is a time for a coming together as the human family.

No longer can segments of society be segrated and separated from the whole. As long as this kind of behaviour is condoned, it sends a strong message that we, as citizens of this country, are to be treated with disdain, with violence.

Having said the above, i ask you..

1. Exactly when are you and this government prepared to take action to protect all citizens (lesbian, gay, bixesual and transgender)) from hatred and violence?
   
   
2. Exactly when will you and this government be amending the Criminal Code to include lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people with the hate propaganda provisions?
   
   
3. Exactly when will you and this government be reforming provision law so that gay-bashers can no longer rely on the discredited "homosexual panic" defence to justify violence against members of our communities?
   Until lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people stand up as equals in our society and expect the same treatment as the rest of their citizens, the mainstream will continue to tell us who we are and to ask us to "sit at the back of the bus".

And a growing number of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people believe that we already belong just by being here, just the way we are. Rest assured, we will continue to seek what is rightfully ours as citizens of this country.

It is time to end the rhetoric. it is time for right action that includes all of the citizens of Canada.

Respectfully,

Barbara McDowall and Gail Donnelly
Toronto ON
November 29, 2020