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The federal government was criticized when its recently overhauled study guide for new immigrants failed to make mention of gay rights or same-sex marriage.
At the time, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney dismissed queries about the omission, suggesting it was not possible to include “every policy of the government of Canada” in the manual.
And when Egale Canada, a prominent gay-rights group, raised the issue with Kenney last year, he said the issue had been “overlooked” when the new guide was being prepared.
Unfortunately for Kenney, an access to information request made by The Canadian Press has uncovered documents that show Kenney himself — or somebody in his office — ordered references to gay rights stripped from the document, despite pleas to do the opposite by well-intentioned bureaucrats.
Remember, Canada has been at the forefront of the recognition of gay and lesbian rights for years. Homosexuality was decriminalized 40 years ago and same-sex marriage was legalized in 2005. But none of this appears to have fazed Kenney — an outspoken critic of gay and lesbian rights — whose office ordered the sections removed after it had been sent a draft of the new guide, which was released in November.
While Kenney has denied direct responsibility for the short-sighted bit of editing that threatens to give immigrants a politically skewed impression of the inclusive, compassionate nation we love to call home, there’s no doubt that those who work under him reflect the stridently anti-gay bias that has been and continues to be shown by their boss.
Sadly, while most of us have come a long way toward understanding homosexuality as something that should be embraced rather than feared, some of our elected representatives have failed to keep step with societal change, refusing to accept gay and lesbian Canadians as equal partners in the great democratic enterprise that is Canada.
Kenney is entitled to his own opinions, but as an agent of the Crown he must abide by Canada’s laws and not let personal beliefs or political dogma stand in the way of celebrating — and protecting — the rights of all Canadians, be they new or old, male or female, gay or straight, black or white.
Canadians expect nothing less.
jim wise says... 
0As a straight guy who has gay friends i would like to add my observations.They gay guys I know are responsible harmless citizens who knew they were gay as soon as they began to be sexually mature.It was not a choice they made.While sraight guys sometimes label them as perverts I would like to explore who are the real perverts here.Many men acess pornography which deals with rape, bestiality, degradation and child abuse. Rapes with violence are common in our society and many women are killed or dissapear because of some men's unhealthy desires.Straight men who feel uncomfortable around gays have the arrogance to think they are objects of gay desire. If they do feel uncomfortable then they might then know how a woman in a workplace might feel surrrounded by their leering male co-workers.The gay men I know have always acted with discretion in my presence and have kept their expressions of sexuality in their private lives.Good god hockey and sports coaches who are sometimes married prey on their charges using their positions of influence.Hopefully all members of our society in this age have gotten the message that promiscuity is dangerous and unhealthy with lasting consequences.Porno is more ingrained and sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise.All responsible members of our society notwithstanding race, religion or sexual orientation should be allowed full rights and respect.
Posted on March 11, 2010 @ 8:43 am PST | Report post to Editor | 3445365