General News and Announcements

October 21, 2011

News of the death of Jamie Hubley in Ottawa highlights the tragic consequences of bullying that targets a person because of their sexual orientation. In a statement released shortly after Jamie committed suicide, his father wrote:

“We will not say that the bullying was the only reason for James’s decision to take his own life but it was definitely a factor.…Young people are very vulnerable and have enough pressures in life to have to deal with aside from the stress of being bullied. My family’s wish is that no more families have to suffer the unbearable pain of losing a child. No child should have to deal with depression or feel hated because of their beliefs—that is not the Canadian way of treating others.”

The United Church extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Jamie Hubley. We pray that this tragedy will serve as a reminder to all of us that we must continue to publicly condemn discrimination against gays and lesbians.

For over 30 years The United Church of Canada has advocated for the inclusion of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in human rights legislation.

Just recently, on October 12, 2011, the United Church appeared before the Supreme Court as an intervener in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission versus William Whatcott appeal.

This appeal arises from a human rights complaint that was filed in Saskatchewan against William Whatcott, an activist who was found guilty and fined for distributing anti-gay flyers that he said expressed his religious beliefs about homosexuals. That ruling was later overturned by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.

The position taken by the United Church in its intervention maintained that freedom of religion is not absolute, that it does not include the right to engage in religiously motivated hate speech, and it does not extend to conduct that harms or interferes with the rights of others.

The church’s intervention also addressed issues closely related to the underlying homophobia that fuels bullying of young people like Jamie Hubley.

In its oral presentation to the court, the United Church argued that hate speech causes real and lasting harm to its victims and to Canadian society.

“To appreciate that harm, we must examine it through the lens of its victims. In this case, the victims are gays and lesbians, including gay and lesbian youth who may be struggling with their sexual identity. They are a vulnerable minority group.

The majority of gay and lesbian teens face bullying and harassment while at school, solely as a result of their sexual orientation. Throughout their lives they are at a higher risk of violent hate crimes, depression and suicide.”

In its written submission to the Supreme Court, the United Church said, “Hate speech encourages derision, hostility, and abuse of already vulnerable persons, causing them pain, indignity, and loss of self-worth. It encourages others to share in a hateful and discriminatory point of view, which damages Canadian society and threatens social stability.”

In conclusion, the United Church asked the Supreme Court to uphold hate speech provisions that seek to prevent harm and to confirm that freedom of religion does not extend to hate speech.