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Mahmoud Bennett Social Media Producer/Reporter
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Canada bill seeks to penalize ‘offensive’ speech near drag shows

Mahmoud Bennett Social Media Producer/Reporter
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The Ontario Legislative Assembly in Canada has proposed a bill that seeks to establish LGBTQ safety zones and penalize “offensive remarks” near drag shows or similar events in the province. Proponents say the measure is a response to increased violence and consistent with Canadian hate speech laws. However, some critics argue that the bill is an attack on free expression due to its broad nature.

During a press conference, members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly announced the plan saying it would target “any homophobic, transphobic act of intimidation, threat, offensive remark, protest, disturbance, and distribution of hate propaganda.” If passed, the law would create safety zones within a 100-meter football field-sized area of designated events, where “offensive remarks” about gay people would be prohibited and could lead to a fine of up to $25,000.

In contrast, some states in the U.S. have moved to restrict drag performances to varying degrees. Tennessee became the first state to restrict adult cabaret performances in public or areas where there may be young children on-site. While it was signed into law in March 2023, it was temporarily blocked by a federal judge over First Amendment concerns. Republican lawmakers in at least 16 states have also proposed similar laws, as reported by NBC. Across the country, conservative activists and politicians argue that drag contributes to the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children, according to The Associated Press.

Prominent Conservatives like talk show host Matt Walsh have applauded the Tennessee law. In a video he argued that when it comes to drag shows, there’s an overarching intention to “desensitize and confuse children to induct them into the less sexual pathologies and obsessions from a very young age.”

In contrast, the White House has disagreed with the growing efforts targeting drag shows. During a March 2023 press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “it’s part of a larger pattern from elected officials who espouse freedom but apparently think that freedom of speech only extends to people who agree with them.”

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MAHMOUD BENNETT:

A NEW BILL IN CANADA WANTS TO ESTABLISH LGBTQ SAFETY ZONES AND PENALIZE QUOTE OFFENSIVE SPEECH NEAR DRAG SHOWS OR SIMILAR-TYPE EVENTS IN THE ONTARIO PROVINCE

CRITICS CALL IT AN ATTACK ON FREE EXPRESSION WITH ITS BROAD NATURE… PROPONENTS SAY IT’S IN RESPONSE TO INCREASED VIOLENCE – AND CONSISTENT WITH CANADIAN LAW

THE MOVE WILL TARGET-

VIDEO: “ANY HOMOPHOBIC TRANSPHOBIC, ACT OF INTIMIDATION, THREAT, OFFENSIVE THREAT, OFFENSIVE REMARKS, PROTEST, DISTURBANCE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF HATE PROPAGANA”

MAHMOUD BENNETT: IF PASSED IT WOULD CREATE QUOTE SAFETY ZONES WITHIN A FOOTBALL-FIELD SIZED AREA OF DESIGNATED EVENTS – WITH STIFF PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS:

VIDEO: “IT ALSO COMES WITH IT A PENALTY OF 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS IF PROSECUTED SUCCESSFULLY”

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

MEANWHILE ACROSS THE BORDER SOME AREAS IN THE US ARE SWINGING IN A VERY DIFFERENT DIRECTION

TENNESSEE BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO RESTRICT ADULT CABARET PERFORMANCES IN PUBLIC OR AREAS WHERE THERE MAY BE YOUNG CHILDREN ON SITE – IT WAS SIGNED IN MARCH BUT WAS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE OVER FIRST AMENDMENT CONCERNS

MEANWHILE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN AT LEAST 16 STATES SO FAR THIS YEAR HAVE PROPOSED SIMILAR LAWS –

MANY SUPPORTERS BELIEVE THESE LAWS RIGHTFULLY TARGET CHILD PREDATORS

MATT WALSH: “THERE’S ALSO THE OVERARCHING INTENTION TO DESENSITIZE AND CONFUSE CHILDREN TO INDUCT THEM INTO THE LESS SEXUAL PATHOLOGIES AND OBSESSIONS FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE..”

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

THE NATION’S HIGHEST OFFICE PUSHING BACK-

Karine Jean-Pierre: “IT’S PART OF A LARGER PATTERN FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ESPOUSE FREEDOM BUT APPARENTLY THINK THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH ONLY EXTENDS TO PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH THEM”