B.C. "gays" on the move again. (News in Brief).Vancouver--Following the December 2002 Supreme Court decision in the Surrey, B.C. schoolbooks case, and the censuring of B.C. teacher Chris Kempling Christopher S. M. Kempling, Psy.D. is an educator and counsellor in British Columbia, Canada, whose suspension for voicing his opinions about homosexuality became the centre of a controversy concerning minority rights and freedom of speech. (see March 2003, p.20 and pp. 37-3 8), another case which may undermine the rights of B.C. parents is now underway. Homosexual activists led by Murray Warren are attempting to have the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal compel all teachers in the province to "deliver positive messages about homosexuality throughout the curriculum." This would be done by adding "sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. " and "gender identity" to a list of "cross-curricular interests" drawn up several years ago to ensure so-called equal treatment for all students. Warren believes that teachers are fearful of introducing such issues because of a possible backlash "from certain members of the community" (parents, perhaps?). This will all change, he thinks, if the ministry does the right thing and encourages teachers to include these "sensitive issues" in regular lessons such as math and history, rather than scheduling them as separate topics from which students might find a way to opt out. The B.C. Human Rights Commission was disbanded in 2002. However, before it broke up, it found a case of discrimination against Warren and referred it to the Human Rights Tribunal, which is still at work in the province. The HRT HRT abbr. hormone replacement therapy Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) Also called estrogen replacement therapy, this controversial treatment is used to relieve the discomforts of menopause. , however, has refused to confirm that the case was referred to it. Kari Simpson, executive director of the Citizen's Research Institute (CRI CRI constant-rate infusion. ) in Langley, B.C., which is seeking intervenor status in the case, has had problems accessing information. In a stonewalling stone·wall v. stone·walled, stone·wall·ing, stone·walls v.intr. 1. Informal a. exchange of correspondence with HRT chair Heather MacNaughton, Ms. Simpson was informed that "this situation has not arisen before at this tribunal." However, since that time, the CRI has obtained an adjournment A putting off or postponing of proceedings; an ending or dismissal of further business by a court, legislature, or public official—either temporarily or permanently. of the case and (partial) access to the file. Ontario citizens may perhaps remember the name of the HRT chairwoman. Heather MacNaughton was the Ontario HRT official who delivered the first egregious judgement in the case of printer Scott Brockie (February 2000), imposing a fine and a condemnation for his refusing to accept a print order from a "gay"-lesbian organization. Editor's note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : Mr. Chris Kempling's hearing scheduled for March has been postponed to sometime in May. |
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