Queer ‘Naughty’ books still seized

Little Sister’s update

Andrew Carroll

ittle Sister’s, a lesbian and gay bookstore & emporium,

has moved into a new,

which books with serious intellec- tual and artistic merit could be released by Customs. Before, Customs sometimes apprehended boxes indiscriminately, including a box of rainbow pride flags (Freedom Flags) and other queer pride paraphernalia. Their appeal process before was strictly a yes/ no decision. Now they are very careful in what they seize and, to avoid conflict, some material goes to the highest level of Customs. However, some material is still seized, such as Alberto Manuel’s Hazing. Nevertheless, the lookout list that Canada Customs used to 5 single out particular bookstores = has been ordered deleted by Justice Kenneth Smith. Little “ “' Sister’s wants a whole revision of what is deemed to be obscene. PEN Canada, an anti-censorship organization, is also very disap-

specially designed and built location on 1238 Davie St. The lesbian and gay bookstore has been fighting Canada Customs and still hasn't achieved what it set out to do, but it has made some great advances with its case. For dec- ades, Canada Customs has been taking possession of books they deem obscene and sometimes burning what they seize. “Obscene” material includes

between the two.” Little Sister’s will be going back to the Court of Appeal to fight

profile writers such as Jane Rule and Pierre Burton as witnesses. The ruling by Justice Kenneth

tory, they were not discriminatory against the gay community. Rather, it was discrimination against an

Customs include some by Oscar Wilde and Jane Rule (two brilliant

writers). The argument put out by Smith stated that there is nothing _ pointed by the ruling that was individual bookstore. Mark, a Canada Customs sometime this Canada Customs was that Canadi- constitutionally wrong with handed down a year ago. Little Sister’s employee, explained spring. They’ve had tremendous ans should be protected from Canada Customs taking books, but During the court case it was that the lesbian and gay bookstore _ support from the artistic, intellec- “obscene” images, while Little Customs went about it in an revealed that Canada Customs also serves many straight custom- _ tual and gay communities. Sister’s and the BC Civil Liberties | unconstitutional manner. The allowed the same banned books to ers. And when asked if the legisla- For more information'o : Association argued that the judge also said that material with _ be transported across the border to _ tion that added the term ‘sexual the court case, visit Littl ; government has no right to say sado-masochistic content is not Duthie Books. A Little Sister’s orientation’ to the Charter of Sister's website a what Canadians can and cannot obscene. In April 1996, Customs representative told The Other Press Rights and Freedoms had any ; Isi F read. During the 1994 court case, _revised its policy and made it that although the actions of implications to the court case, he http://wwwalsisters.co i Little Sister’s brought in high possible for an appeal processby | Canada Customs were discrimina- said, “There’s no connection t

What are queers listening to?

One heterosexual man’s inquiry into

-tion, but unfortunately this broad

generalization holds true (mainly in the male queer community). There is, however, a significant

community do itself a massive service by taking a more serious collective approach to the world

There is, however, a significant

A young queer

of music? In the AIDS debate, the : , th e taste ga minority of serious classical music queer community has proven minority of A nine baat old 5 § Pp fans within the gay community, so _ itself to be a vocal and effective : ; perspective with by Elijah Bak at least there is a degree of lobbying group. Now, WHY serious classical M ’s hel measurable seriousness with CAN'T THEY STOP KILLING Cane OF) 2 BEI regards to music. But... RuPaul? © THEIR MUSICAL TASTEBUDS??!! music fans within by KO

s someone who takes musical tastes very seri- ously, I have often

wondered why a certain very vocal percentage of the queer community aligns itself with musical pap: The Village People

images of anal penetration, even though anal penetration itself is legal between consenting adults in Canada. The books grabbed by Canada

Communards, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, RuPaul and the list goes on and on, ad infinitum. To be fair, this is a broad generaliza-

I appreciate the fun behind the camp veneer that inhabits most of the above mentioned music groups. What I would like to know is: given that (in the case of gay men particularly) there is,

their “serious heads?” For a group that has struggled mightily this century to establish itself as a community, couldn’t the queer

I would like to beseech all queerfolk who are reading this article to: STOP THE MADNESS!! There is such a wealth of brilliant music out there! I know! I’ve heard some of it! Jimmy

on the stove and a stack of early jazz and soul albums by the CD player. Come on. Try it. You’ ll like it. Trust me.

the gay community, so at least there isa

regards to music. But... RuPaul?

Happiness, Pain, Escape.

When Cynthia tried to kiss me I felt bad. I was afraid to tell Mom because, YUCK, I kissed a girl! Mom reminded me I felt bad when Robert tried to kiss me too. Mom

(whose greatest musical contribu- _ broadly speaking, a greater Sommerville is NOT particularly degree of said, “It’s not because Cynthia is a tion is a little ditty about picking amount of disposable income and _ talented. The Village People is an girl that makes it bad, but it’s not up teenage boys at the local “Y’) leisure time within the queer ugly collection of asinine stere- measu rable okay to kiss someone who doesn’t and other musical luminaries, community, can’t they, in the otypes. Please, come in out of the é want to be kissed.”

: - such as the Pet Shop Boys, the words of Leonard Cohen, find cold. There's a pot of chicken soup seriousness with When Cynthia came over to play

Mom said, “When some[one] says ‘no don’t kiss me/’ or, ‘no don’t do that,’ You have to respect that. And leave them alone but don’t ever feel bad about wanting to kiss someone. If someone is touching you or

a} sexeeueemnotert There is magic inherent in kissing you and you don't like it, say ' : Everything no” and talk to the counsellor at ' Ons racy. FIGHT We need to clear away school.” : a Our cobwebs Isaw Mom go into Mrs. Yang’s The Other Press, Douglas College's autonomous To see office at school the next day. I think she was a little worried about og is now accepting applications We te dy atta Cynthia. i or the owing positions: Hardwork (In KO’s own words) Cynthia is okay. | ®. Advert is png /Bookke spine It may never : She just likes to kiss girls. I don’t wf Edi torial esource STOP Happen this way again. know why she likes to kiss girls. But pec oamaaony Resource THE dee ee seeing Oo VIOLENCE by Animal instinct. I think she can’t help it. STOP THE E sna HATE De: but any. ? ROSRE Rate" WoKeIeD ress valor . Only d candidates ted for an interview. Deadline, Feb. 17 Sedum Send résumés to: Board of Direc aan AN ATTACK Other Pub ON ONE OF US Room 1020- vies New Westmit 3 An Ri fax: 527. be Other Press mene I hope you realize that heterosexuality will email features@op. douglas.be.ca waRninc prejudice my eventual rine anne a

6 February 101997 The Other Press