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from Political News
Do Hate Crimes Laws Protect
All Sexual Lifestyles?
Canadian Judge Rules "Voyeurism" a Sexual Orientation
June 29, 2004 - The Canadian Citizen's Research Institute is concerned
that if "sexual orientation" is added to Canada's criminal code (Sections 318
and 318) under a recently passed hate crimes law, then voyeurists may become a
protected class under the law.
CRI points to the fact that "sexual orientation" in the hate
crimes law passed recently by the Canadian Parliament remains undefined but will
be defined by judges. CRI notes that on December 18, 2003, Judge Romilly of the
British Columbia Youth Court declared that voyeurism could be considered a
legitimate sexual orientation.
In his ruling dealing with "sexual orientation" in Section 718 of the Criminal
Code, he noted: "I am of the opinion that this crime was motivated by bias,
prejudice or hate based on a factor similar to sexual orientation and is covered
by this section of the Criminal code. It strikes me that this section
contemplates hatred against 'peeping toms,' and/or 'voyeurs' as being within its
purview, since in my opinion such an activity represents a sexual lifestyle
which some may consider deviant, but is a sexual lifestyle all the same."
CRI's web site is temporarily down for redesign.
Updated: 3 September 2008
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