Media Advisory

March 14, 2000

Supreme Court of Canada to Hear Challenge to Canada Customs Laws in Little Sisters case

On Thursday of this week, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the case of Little Sisters Book & Art Emporium v. Canada. This case involves a challenge by the Vancouver-based bookstore Little Sisters to the customs legislation, which enables Customs officers to seize, detain and destroy materials which they deem to be "obscene". Under the current regime, lesbian and gay bookstores are targeted for discriminatory treatment, material is deemed "obscene" solely because it is lesbian or gay in nature, and shipments of books which are freely available in mainstream bookstores are routinely detained.

EGALE, a national organization which advocates equality and justice for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people, will be intervening in support of the appeal. EGALE will argue that the legal definition of obscenity, as well as its disproportionate application by Canada Customs, gives rise to systemic discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals under the Charter of Rights, and violates our rights to equality and freedom of expression.

Supreme Court Hearing: Thursday, March 16, 2000
Place: Supreme Court building
Time of Hearing: 9:15 a.m.

Representatives of EGALE will be available for comment in the foyer of the Supreme Court building at the beginning of the lunch break.

For further info, call:
Cynthia Petersen, Counsel: (416) 979-6440
John Fisher, Executive Director: (613) 230-1043

Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.