(This Canadian Bill C-250 which just became law was the law that everyone is concerned about which might used someday to criminalize Bible scriptures where they might be considered hate speech against homosexuals.) http://www.canadianchristianity.com/cgi-bin/na.cgi?nationalupdates/040428bill Pro-gay Bill C-250 will now become law

By David F. Dawes

CONTROVERSIAL legislation dealing with homosexuality will now become law, despite last-ditch efforts by conservative pro-family groups.

Bill C-250, proposed by openly gay NDP MP Svend Robinson, will add "sexual orientation" to two sections of the Criminal Code dealing with hate propaganda. Until now, the law has protected "identifiable groups," based on race, colour, religion or ethnicity.

Robinson's bill was passed by Parliament last year, and then sent to the Senate in early April. After two amendments, and considerable debate, the bill was passed 59 - 11; after undergoing the formality of royal assent, it will become law.

As the bill languished in the Senate, conservative Christians kept up the pressure. Thousands of people from across Canada protested the bill at Parliament Hill April 17.

Opponents also wrote extensively on the subject; a notable example is Christophobia: The Real Reason Behind Hate Crime Legislation, by Ontario Presbyterian pastor Tristan Emmanuel. Several groups -- including the Canada Family Action Coalition, REAL Women and Focus on the Family -- urged their supporters to lobby Senate members to defeat the bill. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada summed up the feelings of many in a statement: "We are all appalled by hate-motivated attacks and believe that promoting hatred towards any person or group is wrong. So why should this legislation concern us? Because the term 'sexual orientation' does not distinguish between the 'person' and the 'sexual activity.' As such, we are very concerned that you could be accused of promoting hatred if you publicly express your moral views on, for instance, homosexual activity. We are also concerned that parts of the Bible could be labeled hate literature." According to Canadian Catholic News, Robinson stated some weeks before the bill's passage that C-250 "in no way limits or threatens the freedom of religious expression or religious texts."

Canadian Press (CP) said Robinson "had worked since 1981 to add gays and lesbians to a list of groups legally protected from incitement of hatred and genocide under the Criminal Code."

The MP had been especially concerned about notorious American preacher Fred Phelps, whose website is called GodHatesFags.com. Robinson cited gay-bashing victim Matthew Sheppard, and said the site shows Sheppard "burning in hell, and announcing the number of days he is supposed to have been in hell since his brutal murder."

According to CP, "supporters of Phelps have entered Canada twice in the last five years to hold anti-gay rallies." The preacher and his cohorts have been repeatedly denounced by mainstream Christians.Related Stories: Senate Passes Gay Hate-Crimes Billhttp://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/20040428/ca_pr_on_na/gays_hate_law_2 Senate Passes Bill To Protect Gays From Hate Crimeshttp://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/04/28/canada/hatelaw040428