Today's Lynch List - Stephen Boissoin edition

Alright, here we go. My apologies that I didn’t get this together earlier, but in my defence, I’ve been through three different time zones in about five days.

Instead of running down everybody who’s commented on the Boissoin appeal – especially since by now, you’re probably familiar with the gist of the details anyway, I think I’ll just do a quick run-down list of everybody ( that I’m aware of ) who has commented on the appeal decision so far.

Blazing Cat Fur - Boissoin wins appeal against Insane Human Rights Commission! ( Blaze also has a copy of the decision. )

The National Post – Alberta judge rules in favour of author of anti-gay letter

The Winnipeg Free Press – Alberta judge rules anti-gay letter not hate speech, overturns ruling

The Edmonton Sun – Anti-gay letter violated no human-rights law: Judge

Rob Breakenridge - Partial Victory for Free Speech in Alberta

On the podcast page for Rob Breakenridge’s radio show, you can also listen to John Carpay and Stephen Boissoin in the wake of the appeal decision.

Colby C’osh in Macleans – The Boissoin case: freedom gains a moral victory

The Miss Marprelate Tracts - Boissoin Ruling Overturned

LifeSiteNews – Pastor Boissoin Exonerated: Judge Rules Letter on Homosexuality Not “Hate” Speech

Stand Your Ground - Reverend Stephen Boissoin Wins Appeal Against “Human Rights” Commission

Tips-Q – Another Right Wing Hate Crimes Horror Story Goes Down

Box Turtle Bulletin – Stephen Boissoin ruling reversed

No Apologies - ECP Centre celebrates victory for Stephen Boisson and Canadian liberty

The International Free Press Society – Mark Steyn: Lifetime speech ban lifted.

My World: Welcome To It - A Sad Day for Alberta:Alberta judge rules anti-gay letter not hate speech

Mark Steyn, in The Corner – Canadian Lifetime Speech Ban Lifted:

A couple of years back, the Reverend Stephen Boissoin committed the crime of writing a letter to a local newspaper objecting to various aspects of “the homosexual agenda”. The Alberta “Human Rights” Tribunal convicted him of this crime and imposed a lifetime speech ban preventing him, in essence, from saying anything about homosexuality in public or private ever again anywhere for the rest of his life.

The Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta has now struck down this outrageous decision. Mr Justice Wilson’s ruling could not be plainer. He rejects all the Tribunal’s punishments as “illegal”, not least the speech ban:

The direction to cease and desist the publishing of “disparaging remarks about gays and homosexuals’ is beyond the power of the Panel. “Disparaging remarks”were not defined by the Panel. But clearly, “disparaging remarks” are remarks much less serious than hateful and contemptuous remarks and are quite lawful to make. They are beyond the power of the Act to regulate and the power of the Province to restrain.

Quite so. And how sad that an appeals court should have to point out something so obvious. The Reverend Boissoin has won a belated and costly victory over the ideological control-freaks of the Canadian thought police. On the broader questions, Mr Justice Wilson is more reserved, pointing out correctly that these are matters for the legislature. Unfortunately, Canada’s political class are in no hurry to take it up. Nonetheless, the Court of Queen’s Bench decision (not to mention its reference to yours truly) would have been less likely before the campaign to restore freedom of speech up north. The cravenness of the politicians is depressing, but Ezra and I and a few others have helped to change the climate – and, for the moment, rendered these disgusting laws unenforceable.

As for America, you see in the recent push for “hate crimes

Read it here.

LifeSiteNews – Commentary on Dec 4 News

Xtra.ca – Free speech triumphs as anti-gay letter ruled legal

The Montreal Gazette – Human rights ruling appealed

The Calgary Herald – Judge overturns hate ruling in Red Deer case, allows anti-gay remarks

Towleroad – Judge Rules Pastor’s Letter Calling Gays Immoral is Not Hate Crime

Catholic Exchange – Pastor Boissoin Exonerated: Judge Rules Letter on Homosexuality Not “Hate” Speech

BigCityLib – Alberta’s Section 3 Constitutional; Boisson Acquitted

Blazing Cat Fur - The Boissoin case: freedom gains a moral victory - Odds and ends - and Steyn on Boissoin Ruling

Ace of Spades – Alberta Judge Overturns Human Rights Commission, But Doesn’t Go Far Enough

The Survivalist Forum - Canadian Judge Torpedoes ‘Hate Speech’ Ruling

CTV News – Alberta judge rules anti-gay letter not hate speech

The Recliner Commentaries - Pastor Stephen Boissoin exoneratd

Religion Clause – Canadian Court Says Pastor’s Anti-Gay Letter Was Protected Speech

Octofinder – Alberta Judge Overturns Human Rights Commission, But Doesn’t Go Far Enough

The Vancouver Sun – Judge overturns hate ruling in Alberta case, allows anti-gay remarks

The Montreal Gazette – Alberta pastor joins hate-law fight

Born Again Redneck – Sticks and stones may break my bones

Tips-Q – Canadian Court Says Pastor’s Anti-Gay Letter Was Protected Speech

The Black Kettle – ECP Centre celebrates victory for Stephen Boisson and Canadian liberty

Religion Clause – Canadian Court Says Pastor’s Anti-Gay Letter Was Protected Speech