“You’re leaving? Are you effing kidding?”
By Cathy Kristofferson, April 16, 2014
Peter LaBarbera, president of the SPLC-designated hate group Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) and co-founder of the Coalition for Family Values with ‘being-sued- for-crimes-against-humanity’, Scott Lively, has had a very bad go of it trying to spread his anti-gay hate this past week, giving him at least one night on the inside of a Canadian jail cell.
LaBarbera’s jailcard week started when he arrived late to a packed room at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, to promote his anti-gay lies only to have most of that packed room get up and leave upon utterance of the first of his usual myths – his opener apparently that ‘the hypocritical left is really the party guilty of intolerance.’
LaBarbara was left to exclaim “You’re leaving? Are you effing kidding?”
And to that we say ‘No Peter, they weren’t kidding. Your brand of hate is not as welcome as you imagine.”
Only about a dozen supporters stayed behind while the rest of the audience headed off to a Honey Maid Graham Cracker party.*
The next day, after the Sinclair debacle, LaBarbera headed north to Canada where he was scheduled to speak at an anti-abortion conference hosted by the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association. He was slated to speak on what he believes are the interconnections between the pro-abortion and the gay agendas. The group Intolerance Free Weyburn, knowing LaBarbera would likely violate Canada’s hate speech law, alerted Canadian officials beforehand, causing LaBarbera to be detained at the border for 3 hours by customs officials.
Canada’s “hate propaganda” law forbids the spread of misinformation and hate speech about protected groups. Sounds about right for LaBarbera’s agenda.
His laptop and cellphone were searched for evidence before he was released into the perceived “safe”custody of his host. Though initially barred entry, he managed to talk his way into the country, to give the keynote address at the conference.
But his brand of hate saw a mere moment of expression, as a bolt of refreshing justice struck before the hatemonger could escape our neighboring land, where hate is well noted for its hurt and harm.
The next day he and a friend headed out to the University of Regina to protest abortion and homosexuality. They had four foot tall signs, one depicting a child purportedly killed by abortion and another saying “sodomy is a sin.” They were asked to leave by campus security accompanied by police. The signs they held contravened the school’s Respectful University policy. Neither would leave so they were arrested for trespassing and spent the night in jail.
Apparently, LaBarbera had worn out his unwelcome, doomed from the moment he set foot on sane soil, and so his next event at the University of Saskatchewan, never happened and he headed some days earlier than scheduled.
Ah and perhaps more justice to come? Perhaps one night may not suffice. For now as a May 26th court date awaits, will LaBarbera show up in Canada again? Or will he shy away from the wrath of the law? And if he dares – one wonders what Border Customs will have in store – let’s anticipate easy entry, as justice awaits this ‘alleged’ criminal trespasser’s chance for yet another Canadian day.
*Wonderful first person account here of the Sinclair after party.
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Reblogged this on JerBear's Queer World News, Views & More From The City Different – Santa Fe, NM and commented:
I reported this already but this gives more detail…
For as often as America pokes fun at Canada for their hilarious stereotypes, you can’t argue with the fact that they go to great lengths to rightfully protect their citizens. We make a huge deal about protecting speech in America, which is why we have KKK rallies and uber-christians lol. Canada actively shuts down these things because its pretty damn obvious that no person has the right to say these idiotic things. Props to Canada, eh.
This has always been an important argument. I am one of those who subscribes to a better balance between freedom of speech and hate speech that actually has the impact of causing violence. It seems that this is where the First Amendment fails Americans as does the gun rights freedoms. Where we fail in that balance that makes sense. I do not believe FREEDOMS always serve to adequately protect citizens. Well done Canada! Though admittedly a fine balance..