REGINA – After a hearing with the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA), anti-gay speaker Peter LaBarbera, president of ‘Americans for Truth about Homosexuality’, will be allowed into Canada to speak at an event in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.
“We were treated fairly and reasonably. They said they didn’t have sufficient grounds to prosecute (based on) the hate propaganda code. That’s gratifying,” said LaBarbera.
LaBarbera was detained at the Regina airport on Thursday night as CBSA agents grilled him for nearly three hours upon entering Canada.
“We were asked questions about what our purpose was for the visit and why we were speaking at this event and I was actually asked what percentage of my talk will deal with homosexual activism opposed to pro-life issues and detailed questions like that,” said LaBarbera.
Once LaBarbera was detained, Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) agents thoroughly went through his work and literature.
“The lead CBSA agent said that he had looked at my website and that according to his take on it, the website focuses on a group of people which he said was in violation of the hate propaganda law.”
LaBarbera says he was released from customs just after 1 a.m. on Friday morning and spent the night in Weyburn.
LaBarbera believes he was flagged at the border by the ‘Intolerance Free Weyburn’ group.
“The group had a letter on its Facebook page which they were telling everybody and lobbying the public safety minister to literally turn us back at the border,” LaBarbra added.
What started as a petition last week turned into a protest in Weyburn, Sask. on Friday.
The group ‘Intolerance Free Weyburn’ set up shop across the street from where the Pro-Life Association’s conference is to be held.
Upwards of 60 people rallied, saying LaBarbera’s anti-gay agenda isn’t welcome.
“Just because you’re a small group of concerned citizens doesn’t mean you can’t make a lot of noise,” said Regan Lanning, with Intolerance Free Weyburn.
Comments