Free speech on trial north of the border

On June 17, 2002, the Red Deer Advocate in the Canadian province of Alberta published a letter to the editor written by Stephen Boissoin, then head of Alberta's Concerned Christian Coalition. The letter starts with an expression of compassion for people suffering from an "unwanted sexual identity crisis." It then goes on to decry the "militant homosexual agenda," specifically for introducing homosexual teachings into public schools, encouraging children to believe that "same-sex families are acceptable," and that "men kissing men is appropriate."

Darren Lund, then a teacher at Red Deer's high school, filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission. Lund had recently launched an anti-prejudice program at the school, and his argument against Boissoin was that his letter represented a hate crime.

In December 2007, the commission ruled in Lund's favor, saying that Boissoin had violated human rights law by exposing gays to hatred and contempt. Boissoin and the coalition were prohibited from publishing any "disparaging remarks" about homosexuality. They were also ordered to issue a written apology to Lund and to pay him $5,000 in damages. Boissoin appealed.

Last week a judge overturned the ruling against Boissoin saying, among other things, that the order to refrain from making "disparaging remarks" was illegal and not enforceable.

Reaction on both sides was predictable. Lund expressed concern that the ruling would put gays and lesbians at risk. Boissoin called the entire process, which lasted seven-and-a-half years, "a waste of time."

While I can't speak for Alberta's school system, I believe that here in the United States there is an agenda at work in sex ed curricula in many schools, introducing students to all kinds of sexual behaviors that go against traditional Judeo Christian teachings, including homosexuality. I probably would have written a different letter than Boissoin's. But without question this most recent ruling is a victory for free speech.