February 6, 1996 Pittk Press The Little Sister’s Story by Androgynous On January,.19, after a decade of fighting Canada Customs, Little Sister’s and the BC Civil Liberties Association paradoxically won and lost their case. The Gay and Lesbian Bookstore has been battling it out with customs over the past decade. The gay and lesbian books that were seized by customs were deemed “obscene” and thus not suitable for sale in Canada. Ina ruling, Justice Kenneth Smith declared that the Seizures made by Customs were “the arbitrary and improper consequence of an inadequate and flawed administration of the legislation,” and that the seizures were a part of a “grave systematic problem.” However, Canada Customs still has the authority to seize materials that they deem obscene, including those materials destined for Little Sisters. Such books include Jane Rule’s award winning book The Young in One Another s Arms. Jane Rule, a Canadian Forbidden Passages: Writings writer, had this to say about Custom’s behaviour: “The assumption is therefore, that there must be something pornographic because of my sexual orientation, and I think that is a shocking way to deal with my community.” Another questionable practice by Canada Customs was to censor condom advertisements in gay magazines which _ had important information about the AIDS virus and how to protect oneself. This censorship came at a time Q7 when the spread of AIDS was at its peak among gay men. The lawyers for Canada Customs were poorly prepared and asked for extensions numerous times. At one point one of their lawyers was so unprepared he broke down in the court room. Pierre Burton, the MeO tea Canadian author, testified on behalf of Little Sister’s and believed that some of the books seized by customs had academic merit. Oscar Wilde, the well known RO Meee i eres 2 LESBIAN SHORT STORIES a Oe he crn ara a ielar banned in Canada by Daniela Zanatta Books are meant to be read and enjoyed by all people, but there is a group of people who have the right to limit our access to books: Canada Customs. Customs has the right to seize materials they deem obscene. They have been stopping books at the border, specifically books destined for the shelves of the four gay and lesbian bookstores in Canada. These books have not only been held up at the border, but they have also been confiscated, damaged - and destroyed. Vancouver’s gay, lesbian, bisexual bookstore, Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium, has experienced Canada Customs censorship. Books that have been seized from the Little Sister’s shipments have been labeled sexually degrading, obscene and politically suspect. What kind of material found in these books that would warrant their destruction? Forbidden Passages contains Well, to find out pick up a copy of excerpts from books and magazines Forbidden Passages: Writings Banned in Canada. WRITINGS BANNED IN CANADA Big Du ciate that have been stopped at the border, as well as an introduction by Pat Califia, lesbian writer, and Janine Fuller, manager of Little Sisters. The purpose for the publication this book is to raise funds to help pay for the Little Sister’s trial and to increase awareness of censorship in Canada and the US. Forbidden Passages does contain material that is graphic, and many people would find the pictures and the’ words offensive. These books were not written to offend people, but to be thought-provoking, or cause anger or joy, just as any book should. Not everyone wants to read about coming out, anal penetration, sadomasochistic fantasies, or any books about gays, but it is our right to be able to choose what we want to read. Victorian poet, playwright and writer was detained at the border, his literature was deemed “obscene” by Canadian Customs. Even books without sexual explicitness, such as Tomboys, which features coming out stories by lesbians, and Three Literary Friendships. The books that are seized are burned. In Nazi Germany, books were burned because the government did not agree with what they said. The larger bookstores, like Duthie’s Books, do carry some of the prohibited books, and they have had little problems with Canada Customs. For the court case Janine Fuller, the manager for Little Sister’s had to provide the government’s lawyer with copies of the prohibited books. Little Sister’s went to Duthie’s Books and asked them to order the books. The books were stopped at the border, looked at and then released. In 1992, Madonna’s book, Sex, had little problem at the border although it contained sexually explicit images and sado-machochisic images that some would consider degrading to women. Little Sister’s are still having problems with Customs. The books are still being seized at the border, including books that are “completely non sexually specific,” said Janine Fuller. She believes that “in a free country like Canada, the government has no place in what Canadians can and can not read.” Although Little Sister’s is somewhat pleased with the ruling, PEN Canada, a group that fights for freedom of expression, is “very disappointed” with the ruling which states the legislation is not itself unconstitutional. Little Sister’s is planning to appeal the decision but believes the ruling was “a 75 per cent victory” said Jim Deva, co- owner of the bookstore.