Gay

1168 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: importance of multiculturalism in canada

Hate Crime in Canada

Canada is internationally regarded as an ideal representation of a multicultural and tolerant nation (Perry, 2011, p.4). However, the continued presence of hate crime in Canada and seems to make this multicultural status more of a myth than a statement of fact (Perry, 2011, p.8). Hate crimes are not just criminal acts perpetrated against certain individuals; they are attempts to incite fear into entire identity groups (“End Hate Crime”, n.d.). While a myriad of identity groups suffer from victimization stemming from hate speech and hateful criminal acts, one group seems particularly vulnerable: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ) Canadians. This increased vulnerability is the result intersectionality; the interactive effects of being LGBTQ and other identity characteristics (Perry, 2011, p.25-26). Therefore, the scope of this debate will focus on the experiences of LGBTQ Canadians as this identity permeates racial, gender, and age barriers.

The Criminal Code of Canada states that hate crimes are those offences which propagandize hatred towards “identifiable groups”. These offences include ‘advocating genocide’, ‘public incitement of hatred’ and ‘willful promotion of hatred’ (Criminal Code, 2014). Further amendments to this legislation allow ‘bias, prejudice, or hate’ to serve as an aggravating factor during sentencing when it has been determined that these aforementioned elements served as the motivation for committing a criminal offence (Faulkner, 2011, p.231).

Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms constitutionally protects the freedom of expression, thought, belief, and religion of everyone residing in Canada. This includes personal and religious viewpoints whi...

... middle of paper ...

...LGBTQ individuals. Canadians must have the will to act and not serve as bystanders against those who sympathize with, and those who commit hate crime (Levin, 2007). Measures must be taken to increase the degree of citizenship LGBTQ Canadians experience and to reduce the extensive social exclusion they face (Field, 2006). The onus is also on LGBTQ Canadians to empower themselves and increase their visibility as this can counteract the unrelenting hostility they experience (Perry and Dyck, 2014).

The current Canadian legislation condones violent criminality against LGBTQ individuals and perpetuates a culture of hostility, alienation, the violation of fundamental human rights. Without meaningful change and the cessation of hate crime, violence against LGBTQ Canadians will continue unabated and ideals like social inclusion, diversity, and equality will remain wanting.

Show More
Related

  • The Resistance Movement of Queer People of Color

    2878 Words  | 6 Pages

    Prior to the 1970’s, members of the LGBTQ community, and especially those who also identified as people of color, were forced to stay silent despite constant discrimination because of their minority statuses. They did not have a voice or means to speak out against the oppression. During the 1960’s, the few safe spaces established for QPOC in urban communities had disappeared, since this particular era was being overshadowed by the Civ...

    Read More

  • The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

    2464 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was signed into law by Queen Elizabeth II April 17, 1982. Often referred to as the Charter, it affirms the rights and freedoms of Canadians in the Constitution of Canada. The Charter encompasses fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, language rights and equality rights. The primary function of the Charter is to act as a regulatory check between Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments and the Canadian people. Being a successor of the Canadian Bill of Rights that was a federal statute, amendable by Parliament, the Charter is a more detailed and explicit constitutional document that has empowered the judiciary to render regulations and statutes at both the federal and provincial levels of government unconstitutional. Although the rights and freedoms of Canadians are guaranteed, Sections one and seven of the Charter permit the federal and provincial governments to limit the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Canadians. Section one of the Charter designated ‘Rights and freedoms in Canada’ states “The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” This section is frequently referred to and better known as the reasonable limits clause. The second rights and freedoms limiting section of the Charter, known as the ‘notwithstanding clause’ is Section thirty-three entitled ‘Exception where express declaration’ declares

    Read More

  • The Struggles of Immigant Woman Searching for Employment in Canada

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another topic of interest is the growing amount of violence experienced by women in Canada, specifically among minority women and the LGBTQ community. As noted by Faulkner (2006), homophobic sexist violence has been on the rise and the debate surrounding this issue is the lack of attention being paid to homosexual girls and women. The intersections of race/ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation all determine the type of crime that is perpetrated against the victims but has been ignored by researchers, reducing the complexity of ...

    Read More

  • Quebec Toleration Case Study

    317 Words  | 1 Pages

    In regards to toleration, one can see that Quebec’s relationship between politics and religion is quite messy. It questionably attempting to eliminate a form of religious tolerance by passing this bill. In this case we can see how the government favors some religious institutions over others, by recognizing some as official and tolerating others (Kessler, 224). More importantly we see the government is barely tolerating this religious group (Kessler, 224). The Quebec government is attacking them, and infringing upon their rights to religious freedom and expression in public space.

    Read More

  • Hate Crimes Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Individuals

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    A hate crime is an act of aggression against an individual's actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religions, disability, sexual orientation, or gender. Examples include assault and battery, vandalism, or threats which involve bias indicators - pieces of evidence like bigoted name-calling or graffiti.

    Read More

  • The Laramie Project

    2028 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the late twentieth century, the story of the heinous hate crime of Matthew Shepard spiraled throughout many news outlets and eventually became world wide news. Hate crimes have become one of the most known violent acts towards the LGBTQ community. Ranging in actions such as vandalism, beatings, and even in some cases, death Although many cases as such have occurred, the realistic theatrical portrayal of Matthew Shepard in The Laramie Project, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, and From Hate Crimes to Human Rights: A Tribute to Matthew Shepard, display evidence and an oath to Matthew and his life.

    Read More

  • The Perpetuation of Racism in Canada by the Mainstream News Media

    3978 Words  | 8 Pages

    Canada is internationally renowned for its commitment to multiculturalism. In fact, Canada was the first nation to officially adopt a multicultural policy. However, while the Canadian government has developed a broad-based multicultural mandate that includes a national human rights code and increased penalties for hate-motivated crimes, and most Canadians oppose overt forms of discrimination and hate, racism continues to exist in Canadian society, albeit in a subtle fashion.

    Read More

  • Does The Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms Effectively Protect Our Rights?

    1436 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Charter is interned to be a global source of national advantage and unity, fostering the evolution of a Canadian identity. The Charter supplies Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or newcomers with the broad set of rights and freedoms. However, this raises an important question: what are these rights and freedoms? The Charter protects important freedoms and rights by limiting the ability of governments to pass laws or take measures that are discriminatory. This means that everyone is treated equally, regardless of what race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion,

    Read More

  • Over-Representation Of Aboriginal Women In Canadian Prisons

    1582 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Bill C-41 has provided adequate legal text to inspire legal activism that allows for systemic factors such as gendered conditions of endangerment, to be presented by defense lawyers in the conduct of a case before a sentencing judge and to argue against the imprisonment of Aboriginal women” (Balfour, 2012). Not only crimes committed by Aboriginal women are ending up as indeterminate sentences, but also punishment is given inside the prisons through other inmates and prison guards. “Aboriginal communities already struggling with social problems of poverty, violence, and housing shortages cannot take on the burden of programming and supervision required for conditional sentences” (Anderson, 1999). Racism and discrimination against Aboriginal people have been pervasive in Canadian history. They have been used and mistreated over and over and due to that kind of ill treatment to their ancestors, the effects can still be seen on their future generations. To have sentencing law reforms is insufficient strategies to address the incarceration spiral of Aboriginal women when the conditions of their lives are contoured by legacies of trauma and

    Read More

  • Witch Hunts: Historical Parallels with LGBT Persecution

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    This October 31st, eager children will fill the streets dressed in their black, pointy witch hats and striped socks, oblivious to the fact that only three centuries ago, those thought to be witches could be hung, tortured or burned at the stake. On that same night, fondly dubbed "Gay Christmas", LGBT members can roam the streets free of the harsh gaze of the militant religious. Throughout history, the label "Witch" has been synonymous with "Evil" and those with the label have endured extreme persecution, including the loss of their property, esteem and death. Today, those in the LGBT community experience similar conditions in that they have lost jobs, homes, reputation, and have even been physically abused, simply because of who they are.

    Read More

  • Minority and majority rights

    1801 Words  | 4 Pages

    The rights of many people versus the rights of an individual is certainly a vexing concept. Like a delicate balancing act; if one side is favoured over the other it causes a rift in the already strained relationship between the minority and majority. Evidently, the justification of taking any side must be valid, according to the theories of H.L.A. Hart. In the past, Canadian law has violated the rights of minorities; however, these violations have decreased in their severity as time has passed on. Some cases where the balance between minority and majority rights is questioned is in The Canadian Indian Residential School System, Bill 101, Equality in the Workplace and The Public Service Act.

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Peoples In Canada

    468 Words  | 1 Pages

    In order to ensure that there is a respectful and equal relationship between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people of Canada, we must look back at the issues that resulted into these damaged relationships, issues such as residential schools, reservations system and the Indian Act (Smith, 2015). There are an over-representation Aboriginals in the criminal justice system, we must look into why that is and how

    Read More

  • Speech Essay- Equality between men and women has yet to be achieved.

    951 Words  | 2 Pages

    On April 15th, almost 300 girls were kidnapped from their school in Nigeria. Less than two weeks later, a young women was stabbed in the face, throat and stomach by her classmate in a Connecticut high school And a month later, Elliot Rodger went on a killing rampage in California. All three of these tragedies, all in the span of a month, occurred because women didn’t do what men wanted them to do and they refused to accept women as equals. The kidnapped Nigerian girls were to be sold and traded, the girl was stabbed because she declined his invitation to the junior prom, and Elliot Rodger went on a killing rampage because girls wouldn’t have sex with him. It is believed we live in a sexual-discrimination free society here in Canada, but that is far from the truth. Equality between men and women has yet to be obtained. Women are often considered like objects, similar situations by both genders are viewed differently and women aren’t treated the same as men in the workplace. It is not only third-world countries, but also our Canadian society that doesn’t treat men and women as equals.

    Read More

  • Discrimination Against The LGBTQ Community In Canada

    285 Words  | 1 Pages

    By the mid 1900’s, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer community (LGBTQ) within Canada have established a steady flow of rights. Although discrimination against the LGBTQ community has been persistent all around the world, crucial steps have been made towards legal equality and social acceptance within our mainstream culture. Canada is seen as the global leader in regard to socially accepting the LGBTQ community. In the last decade Canada has seen consistent development in areas such as health care, sexual reassignment surgery, right to adopt a child, and in 2005 passed Bill C-38 that legalizes same-sex marriage. Moreover, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, Trans and queer (LGBTQ) community have experienced persistent discrimination

    Read More

  • LGBT Community and Discrimination.

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.

    Read More

More about Gay

Open Document