UPDATE: Anti-gay speaker denied entry into Canada

REGINA – A controversial American speaker who is sparking a passionate fight in Weyburn has been denied entry into Canada at Regina airport customs.

According to American anti-gay speaker Peter LaBarvera who is the president for ‘Americans for Truth about Homosexuality’ he was detained at the airport Thursday night.

LaBarbera told Global News that agents grilled him for over 3 hours.

“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.

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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’s passport was seized until he returns to customs today at noon for an appeal on whether his message violates Canada’s hate propaganda law.

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.

The group ‘Intolerance Free Weyburn’ is still planning rally this afternoon against the Pro-Life Association’s decision to invite him to speak.

The CBSA won’t comment on this case, specifically citing privacy concerns.