KEN CAMPBELL’S VRIEND AD GOES TO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

TORONTO, June 10 (LSN) – In response to pro-life evangelist Rev. Ken Campbell’s full-page Globe and Mail advertisement condemning the Supreme Court’s Vriend decision, gay activist Philip Shea has demanded punitive action from the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).  Shea described the April 18 advertisement as a “hateful full-page diatribe aimed at lesbians and gay men.” One-third of the ad was written by John McKellar, leader oaf group called Homosexuals Opposed to Pride Extremism—homosexual Canadians who “love Canada, respect its traditions, institutions and values,  and reject the radical demands for “rights” based on sexual orientation.”  In his official complaint Shea names not only Campbell and other pro-family associations who contributed to the ad but also the Globe and Mail and its publisher, Roger Parkinson. “We're in the business of letting people express themselves and often people express themselves in ways we don't like,” Parkinson said in defense of his paper’s decision to publish the paid advertisement. Parkinson also noted that the Globe also published (for free) many letters condemning the ad.  The OHRC has agreed to investigate Shea’s complaint and will determine if and/or when a hearing will be held.