from Political News
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.