BPC Bulletin: Morgane Oger v. William Whatcott
News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee
On March 27, 2019, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled on a dispute between Morgane Oger and William Whatcott.
The tribunal ruled that Whatcott, a Christian activist, had discriminated against Oger, a transgender activist and former B.C. NDP candidate, when Whatcott distributed a leaflet about Oger’s sexuality during the provincial election in 2017.
The tribunal ordered Whatcott to pay $55,000 to Oger.
Read the tribunal’s ruling here:
http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/shareddocs/decisions/2019/mar/58_Oger_v_Whatcott_No_7_2019_BCHRT_58.pdf
REPORTAGE
CBC News reports:
Terry Haig of Radio Canada International reports:
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2019/03/29/b-c-tribunal-rules-in-favour-for-transgender-former-candidate/
The Canadian Press reports:
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/vancouver-trans-advocate-wins-discrimination-lawsuit-1.4354942
In the Vancouver Sun, David Carrigg reports:
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/anti-gay-activist-ordered-to-pay-55000-to-b-c-trans-activist-in-fight-over-hateful-flyer
In The Star, Tessa Vikander reports:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/03/27/transgender-rights-upheld-in-landmark-decision.html
Robyn Crawford of Global News reports:
Jeremy Hainsworth of Glacier Media reports:
https://www.tricitynews.com/b-c-transgender-woman-wins-discrimination-suit-1.23772632
Lianne Laurence of LifeSiteNews reports:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/court-orders-christian-to-pay-55000-to-trans-politician-for-calling-him-biological-male
Nikitha Martins of CityNews reports:
https://www.citynews1130.com/2019/03/28/whatcott-discrimination-pay-morgane-oger-transgender/
In The Georgia Straight, Martin Dunphy reports:
COMMENTARY
At Get Religion, Julia Duin comments:
https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2019/3/31/no-first-amendment-in-canada-referring-to-trans-women-as-men-is-hate-speech
In The Christian Post, Michael Brown comments:
https://www.christianpost.com/voice/fined-55000-for-calling-a-male-a-male.html
In The Telegram, Brian Jones comments:
https://www.thetelegram.com/opinion/columnists/brian-jones-you-cant-say-that-in-canada-295423/
The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.