Bill Whatcott

William Gary Whatcott (born 16 October 1967), known as Bill Whatcott, is a Canadian social conservative activist who campaigns against homosexuality and abortion. The dramatic nature of his activities have attracted attention from the media, including an appearance on The Daily Show. He has also run for political office in Toronto, Saskatchewan and Edmonton.

Bill Whatcott
Born (1967-10-16) 16 October 1967
Toronto, Ontario
Alma materHumber College
Known forAnti-abortion and anti-homosexual activism

Biography

Whatcott was born in Toronto, Ontario and spent his youth in a number of foster homes, where he reports having been physically and mentally abused. At the age of 14 he went to live on the street. At age 18 he reports having found God, who transformed his life.[1] He spent time in jail and a group home, and the latter helped him enroll in nursing school. In 1991, he graduated from Humber College, receiving his diploma in Practical Nursing with Honours, and was granted his nursing licence from the Ontario College of Nurses. Later that year he relocated to Saskatchewan, where he worked first for the Regina Health District and then at a Salvation Army senior's home.[1]

Whatcott wrote an autobiography detailing his childhood, conversion, activism and journey to the Supreme Court of Canada called Born in a Graveyard.[2]

Activism

In Regina he expanded his public campaign against abortion and homosexuality, with his goal to make both activities illegal.[1] One of his most notable activities has been to travel to different Canadian cities and place graphic flyers in mailboxes. These include flyers with images of dismembered fetuses[3] and flyers with pictures of diseases allegedly caused by gay sex.[4] He has also protested at gay pride celebrations and outside abortion clinics.[5] On occasion he has also taken up other causes, including distributing flyers describing Muhammad as "a man of violence" with images of a beheaded Indonesian girl.[6][7] In 2001 he held a Heterosexual Pride Day parade in Regina. After the event turned out to be focused on anti-homosexual displays and speeches the city did not approve the event in subsequent years.[8] The graphic nature of his literature, and his protests have gotten him in repeated legal trouble. He has been arrested six times in Saskatchewan, but never convicted of any charge.[9] He has also been arrested once in the United States and 20 times in Ontario and successfully prosecuted twice for violating the bubble zone, an injunction which bars all prayers and protests from within 60 feet (18 m) of the abortion clinic. On Sept 2 1994, he was convicted the first time for his activism, receiving a six-month stint in jail for violating the bubble zones around at Scott's abortion clinic in Toronto by protesting at the clinic's entrance.[10]

In 2005, he was fined $17,500 by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal for distributing material deemed hateful by the Human Rights Tribunal.[11] His activities were investigated by the Edmonton police, for what one constable called an "affront on the basic tenets of our society," but no charges were laid.[11]

He has also repeatedly run for political office. In the 1999 Ontario election he ran for the Family Coalition Party in the riding of Toronto Centre, finishing eighth with 232 votes.[12] In 2000 he ran for mayor of Regina, finishing fourth of eight with 344 votes.[13] In 2007 he ran for mayor of Edmonton finishing sixth of nine with 1665 votes.[14] He was also a frequent contributor to the conservative website Free Dominion, from which he was eventually banned.

In 2002 Whatcott was interviewed by Ed Helms for The Daily Show.[15] He appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on 12 October 2011 to defend his views on homosexuality. As the judges and lawyers prepared to hear his case, he delivered 3,000 more flyers on homosexuality throughout Ottawa, including Carleton University Campus.[16][17] More interveners appeared in Whatcott's case – 21 in total: 7 for and 14 against – than in any other Supreme Court case in the history of Canada.[18]

A documentary was made on Whatcott's conversion to Christianity and his anti-abortion and anti-gay crusades, which have landed him in front of multiple courts, tribunals, and finally the Supreme Court of Canada. The film featured prominently at Ottawa's Free Thinking Film Festival on 12 November 2011.

In August 2014, Whatcott infiltrated the Vancouver Pride parade. He marched with the false alias of Matthew Davidson with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.[19] He and his group handed out fake condoms which were actually leaflets with messages against homosexuality.[19]

Whatcott has also appeared at several universities around Canada including the University of Calgary and the University of Regina where he was met with protest from students.[20][21]

In 2017 Whatcott printed and handed out fliers with transphobic content against Morgane Oger who was running for provincial office. The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal would later order Whatcott to pay $55,000 to Oger as compensation.[22]

Nursing licence

On 25 January 2005, the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses suspended Whatcott's nursing licence for 45 days and ordered him to pay a $15,000 fine. They asserted that Whatcott had intimidated patients and staff outside a Regina Planned Parenthood clinic by picketing and referring "to its workers as murderers, abortionists and disseminators of AIDS". Whatcott insisted that he was well within his rights of free speech as a private citizen to protest the clinic, as he was off duty and made no reference to his professional status. The judge disagreed and upheld the fine.[23]

On appeal, a Saskatchewan appeals court overturned the ruling by the trial judge, and on May 29, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the appeals court view that Whatcott's activities off duty were protected by the right of free speech and could not be used to suspend his nursing licence.[24] According to Whatcott's lawyer, if the original ruling had stood, it could have affected other professionals, such as lawyers or teachers, who take unpopular views.[25]

Human Rights Tribunal ruling and second Supreme Court of Canada case
Main article: Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v Whatcott

On February 25, 2010, Whatcott had the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal ruling against him alleging discrimination against four homosexuals and fining him $17,500 overturned by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. Part of the judgment acquitting Whatcott read, "the manner in which children in the public school system are to be exposed to messages about different forms of sexuality and sexual identity is inherently controversial. It must always be open to public debate. That debate will sometimes be polemical and impolite."

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, which decided to hear the case.[26]

Whatcott appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on 12 October 2011 to defend his views on homosexuality. While the judges and lawyers were preparing to hear Whatcott's case, the activist delivered 3,000 more flyers on homosexuality throughout Ottawa and got thrown off the Carleton University campus for delivering the flyers there.[27] More interveners appeared in Whatcott's case both for and against him, than in any other Supreme Court case in the history of Canada.[28] Intervening on behalf of Whatcott were the Canadian Constitution Foundation,[29] the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, the Christian Legal Fellowship,[30] the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Catholic Civil Rights League and the Faith + Freedom Alliance.[31] Intervening against Whatcott were Attorney General of Alberta, Canadian Human Rights Commission, Alberta Human Rights Commission, Egale Canada Inc., Ontario Human Rights Commission, Canadian Jewish Congress, Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon and Canadian Unitarian Council, Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, Canadian Bar Association, Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission and Yukon Human Rights Commission, League for Human Rights of B'nai B'rith Canada, United Church of Canada, Assembly of First Nations, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and the African Canadian Legal Clinic.

In February 2013, the Court released its reasons in Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v Whatcott. The Court held that, although Bible passages, biblical beliefs and the principles derived from those beliefs can be legally and reasonably advanced in public discourse, speech which can be described as "detestation" and "vilification" cannot be.[32]

Toronto Pride Parade

In 2016, Whatcott and others infiltrated the Toronto Pride Parade disguised as "gay zombies" wearing green body-suits under the alias of the "Cannabis Consumers' Association".[33] They distributed flyers disguised as "safe sex" packages. The flyers contained graphic depictions of sexually transmitted infections and claimed that homosexual sex puts people at risk of these infections.[34] They also criticized politicians of the Liberal Party, including Justin Trudeau and Kathleen Wynne,[33] for their support of gay activism, and encouraged readers to repent of homosexuality.[34]

For this, a lawyer named Douglas Elliott filed a civil suit against Whatcott seeking damages of $104 million CAD for alleged defamation against the LGBT community and the Liberal Parties of Ontario and Canada.[35][33]

In June 2018, an arrest warrant was issued for Whatcott for his actions in the parade and he turned himself in to police.[34]

References
  1. "Addict turns into activist;" Jason Warick. Star - Phoenix. Saskatoon, Sask.: 1 June 2002. pg. A.1.FRO
  2. "Born in a Graveyard: One man's transformation from a violent, drug-addicted criminal into Canada's most outspoken family values activist". www.amazon.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  3. "Anti abortion pamphlet lacks logical argument;" Patrick Thomson. Star - Phoenix. Saskatoon, 13 September 2005. pg. A.8
  4. Whatcott, Bill. "Sodomites and University Academia". Free North America. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  5. "National Abortion Federation: History of Abortion in Canada". National Abortion Federation. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 20 Nov 2012.
  6. "Site owner pledges to fight hate-speech complaint." The Globe and Mail. David George-Cosh. 25 July 2007
  7. Online text of the flyer "Do Mohammed and his followers merit criticism?" - Archived
  8. "Heterosexual Pride Day focuses on gays;" Elizabeth Levine. National Post. Don Mills, Ont.: 20 June 2001. pg. A.9
  9. "Whatcott wins appeal;" Barb Pacholik. Leader Post. Regina, Sask.: 8 Jul 2005. pg. B.3
  10. Leader Post. Regina, Sask.: 8 Jul 2005. pg. B.3
  11. Police investigating Christian activist for hate crime. CBC News, 8 June 2005.
  12. 1999 Ontario general election
  13. "An Upset Win: Fiacco brings Archer's 12-year reign to an end;" Neil Scott. Leader Post. Regina, Sask.: 26 Oct 2000. pg. A.1.FRO
  14. Edmonton Election 2007 Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Daily Show with Jon Stewart". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  16. Cohen, Tobi. "Whatcott defends anti-gay flyers as case lands in Supreme Court". Postmedia News. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  17. McKinnon, Neil. "UPDATE: Ottawa police investigating Whatcott following anti-gay flyers campaign". Xtra. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 20 Nov 2012.
  18. Canada
  19. "Anti-gay activist slips into Pride to hand out fake condoms". Xtra Vancouver, 6 August 2014.
  20. "The Gauntlet / Anti-LGBTQ activists in front of Q Centre stir up student protest". www.thegauntlet.ca. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  21. "Bill Whatcott returns to U of R to spread controversial message | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  22. "Anti-gay activist ordered to pay $55,000 to B.C. trans candidate in fight over hateful flyer". vancouversun. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  23. Judge confirms suspension of anti-abortion nurse. Wednesday, 19 July 2006 CBC News
  24. "Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses vs William Whatcott". Supreme Court of Canada. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  25. Supreme Court sides with Sask. anti-abortion protester Archived 2 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  26. "Supreme Court to hear appeal over anti-gay leaflets | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  27. Cohen, Tobi. "Whatcott defends anti-gay flyers as case lands in Supreme Court". www.montrealgazette.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  28. http://canadaeverythingcanadian.ca/category/culture/lifestyle/%5B%5D
  29. "Canadian Constitution Foundation". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  30. Christian Legal Fellowship
  31. Faith + Freedom Alliance
  32. Murphy, Jessica (27 February 2013). "Anti-gay crusader can't distribute flyers: top court". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  33. Blatchford, Christie (15 November 2016). "Christie Blatchford: $104M lawsuit against anti-gay activist a political witch hunt, lawyers say". National Post. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  34. "Police charge anti-gay activist Bill Whatcott over homophobic leaflets distributed at Toronto Pride". PinkNews. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  35. "$104-million lawsuit filed against Toronto Pride parade crashers". Daily Xtra. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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