pridebook.com » Canada

Right To Choose: Back on the radar in Canada…

rob — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:43:12 +0000

Uuughhh…. we dealt with the abortion debate years ago. It should be done, settled, off the table.

Instead, the current Conservative Government, under Stephen Harper, have stated they will not support any family planning in the developing world that includes abortion.

The statistics are out there – clinical abortions are safe, and often necessary for the health of the mother.

And now the Catholic Church is weighing in. And we all know how well they deal with issues of “morality.” The latest speech given by Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Of course, if anyone in Canada is an expert on rape, it would have to be Cardinal Marc Ouellet. He can always just phone the Pope for guidance on how to handle that kind of thing.

Disgusting. So what’s ok for Canadian women (abortion) is not ok for women in the developing world?

This article is very worth a read. Tasha Kheiriddin captures most of the trains of thought I have ever had on the topic, and highlights some important poll results from Canada.

PQ leader ‘outraged’ at cardinal’s rape remark (cbc.ca)
Abortion foes mass on Parliament Hill to cheer Harper’s G8 stance (canada.com)
Que. cardinal’s rape remark sparks outcry (calgaryherald.com)

“the only gay marriage….” Protest Sign

rob — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:37:42 +0000

I took this in Ottawa, Canada yesterday afternoon:

Does it even make sense?? LOL

Protest Sign: Parliament Hill

Update: ‘No Fags on the Moon’

Oral Sex vs. Whole Foods

rob — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:22:42 +0000

Kama Sutra : Oral Sex

Dawn posted one of the best comments I’ve ever read after she read this news story about Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution:

http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/04/26/food-revolution-jamie-oliver-vs-the-usda/

Here is a snapshot of her comment (taken from the page linked above) :

Prevention is always the best cure. And as my province is currently having a debate on what can be taught at what age – her comment resonated with me. I agree with her whole-heartedly, and applaud her candor. Nutrition needs to be a much larger part of education – and it needs to start young.

Image via Wikipedia

As for the Ontario Sex Ed stuff — I think kids need to know. Overall health and nutrition topics are clearly lacking – either for religious reasons, or a poor curriculum. North America is largely obese, and HIV infection rates are on the rise in the last 5 years in Canada (according to the World Health Organization). The new Sex-Ed. curriculum has already been delayed once over the language, content and ages at which concepts would be introduced (Oral, Anal Sex, Same Sex Couples/Parents, Gender Identity Issues).

Lessons: Teach them what to eat, and demystify sex for them. I’m skipping “Say No to Drugs,” “Don’t drink and drive” and “Don’t Smoke” because I feel these are already adequately dealt with when I say: Food and sex are probably going to be the biggest influences on their long term health outside of drugs, DUIs and cigarettes.

Rob’s aside…

Growing up in the Catholic School system, I really didn’t have any idea of how babies were made — and learned most of the body parts from Porky’s. No wonder no one wanted to ever shower near or through the wall with me – and if that doesn’t mean anything – go and rent the film.

Now, living in a country that recognizes gay marriage, it’s time for parents and school boards alike to wake up and talk reasonably about same sex couples and parents.

If not, each new sexually acquired HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy amongst this generation should be placed squarely on the head of the Sex-Ed naysayers. Each case of nutrition-based obesity should also be regarded as a failure of both parents and the education system.

Think of the suffering among youth that could be prevented if they knew the right stuff to eat, and the safest ways to enact their sexual urges.

Face it, they’re all going to eat and have sex at some point – wouldn’t it be best if they had an inkling of how to do both with a clear understanding of the consequences?

We Support You, Constance McMillen

We Support You, Constance McMillen

rob — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:22:12 +0000

Constance McMillen

Short version of this article:

She wanted to bring a same-sex date (and, heaven-forbid, wear a tux).
School said no.
ACLU informed school board “you’re violating rights.”
School board cancels prom for entire school
She files lawsuit

It happened in Canada (see Marc Hall) and was later made into quite a good little tv-film.

Here is the website of the school board that cancelled the prom for the “education, safety and well-being” of the rest of the student body.

Idiots.

Too Fat to Fly? Personally, it should be all about the numbers… and I have a solution

rob — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:51:45 +0000

Kevin Smith’s story has been in the headlines… I’ve been thinking about my own experiences, and thankfully have never had that negative an experience.

But I’ve given it some thought, and I think I have a solution…

: Image via Wikipedia

Once, I was flying Air Canada (though not to single them out – their policies on this are pretty standard across airlines), and I weigh 180lbs (82kg) – but my luggage was over sized, and there were several extra pieces, to the tune of $600.00 . While checking the luggage, the counter staff apologized for the overage – but charged me nonetheless. Of course I wasn’t thrilled to part with my hard-earned money, but I was paying for a service: Get me (of totally discretionary weight) and my heavy bags ($600.00 worth) to my destination.

So I paid for the overage.

Two things come to mind:

Airlines: Widen your seats.
- I spent some time on boeing.com today to see if I could find a seat size specification, and I couldn’t within 10 minutes of looking – if someone reading this knows how to find them, please leave a comment.
- Seriously: the society we live in today (here are some Canadian statistics from a report prepared for Parliament in 2005) has lots of overweight and obese people. Approximately 58.8% of Canadians are overweight, and 23.4% of Canadians are obese.
- Yet the airline seats continue to be made for a 100lb person who is 5′5″ tall.
- Come on, larger plane seats would make everyone, save the greedy shareholders, a lot happier.

Customers: Pay for the weight you bring onto the plane.
- My belief is that a plane ticket should be for travel of x lbs from Point-A to Point-B.
- Let’s say that x=300, so in my case, I would take up 200lbs in the cabin (myself, my laptop, my very aromatic food) and another 100lbs of luggage, after which, I would start to pay overages.
- So if i weighted 270lbs, I would be seated in one of the new larger seats (see above) which should, statistically take up 50% of the plane, and only have 30lbs of luggage weight left available, and if I weighted 110lbs, the difference to 300 could be made up in luggage.
- This could even be spun as a money-point: unclaimed weight below 300lbs could be offered as a credit with the airline.

Until the airlines (and consumers) start living in reality: we will see more of these stories (forced to buy two tickets, discretionary decisions made at the gate, etc.), and stories like this aren’t good for anyone. They hurt the feelings of overweight passengers, they make the airlines look mean, and they make everyone [even more] hesitant to fly.

Personal RFP: attention airlines! (horsepigcow.com)
Video: Early Show Hosts do Show in Tiny Airline Seats, Are Miserable (shoppingblog.com)
Overweight passenger searches for accommodating airline (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
NYT: Will airlines and passengers call a truce? (msnbc.msn.com)
Kevin Smith and the Customers of Size (flightwisdom.com)

Patrick Lightheart Does It Again

rob — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:32:50 +0000

Having previously blogged about gay Toronto artist Patrick Lightheart, I was delighted to see that he had a new website.

The gallery really shows off his skill – and while I don’t know art… I know what I like… this guy has a great eye! Some of his compositions are truly breathtaking.

Patrick Lightheart

Canadian Border Agents Seize Previously Allowed Gay Films

rob — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:48:02 +0000

Border Guards and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Canadian Border Agents Seize Gay Films | News | Advocate.com.

Geez, that’s frustrating to read about. I followed the case of the bookstore in 2000 in Vancouver, and the resulting Supreme Court of Canada case. (listen to a report from 1994, and read about their Supreme Court victory here)

The bookstore won the case, and the Supreme court struck down part of the customs act.

I hope the border guards enjoy their PG-rated gay films… from “start to finish”

Am I missing something about Prop 8 ?

rob — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:28:48 +0000

photo credit: BlackHawkTraffic

Am I wrong in thinking: this resolution would apply ONLY to the people interested in using it (i.e. gay couples wishing to get married)?

Who else should be concerned with it? It is not about taking away the rights of heterosexuals, is it? Is anything being forced on them that I am missing?

Surely for all the fuss California is kicking up, if Prop 8 were overturned, each straight couple must have to then adopt a leather submissive for the house. And clean up after him.

I stand behind former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau: “The State has no place in the bedroom of the nation,” and unless it is going to damage the rights of others, it shouldn’t even be up for debate.

Today, I am feel a genuine ache in my soul. I just can’t….. wrap my head around why straight people would care?

Here in Canada, gay marriage has been allowed federally for a few years – and as you can see, Canada is now a 3rd world country.

Homosexuals have overrun the place.

The gay mafia runs the government.

You’re not safe in the street unless you are in hotpants.

Instead of Kevlar our police wear hot-pink boas.

Going to work in drag is mandatory for 50% of the working calendar, etc. etc.

F*ck.

photo credit: chelseagirl