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Canadians urged to support gay rights abroad
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Canada, as a relatively safe haven for gays and lesbians, has a responsibility to fight for homosexual rights abroad and open its doors to those escaping persecution because of their sexual orientation, a Pride Week panel discussion heard.
"There are 86 countries in the world where we would be arrested just for being in this room," Rev. Brent Hawkes of Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church told the panel Monday night.
"In 10, we would be executed," Hawkes continued.
Scott Long of Human Rights Watch said despite what many believe, persecution of homosexuals often has more to do with culture than religion.
For instance, in Turkey, he said, the Islamist party now in power has shown more sympathy for gay rights than the secular party that ruled before it.
"It was the emergence of the religious sector that has largely opened up discussion of rights," he said.
Both Hawkes and Long said countries such as Canada and the U.S. need to do more to recognize the persecution of homosexuals as a threat that warrants refugee status.
Too often, they said, such claims are refused.
Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow told the panel one solution would be to implement the refugee appeals process included in Canada's immigration laws, but never set up.
Long said the Canadian government could assist gay rights groups abroad by helping them communicate with groups in other countries.
"It can be a very isolating experience" to be a gay activist in a repressive country, he said in an interview.
Hawkes said Canadian gay rights activists should support their counterparts in other countries.
They should also press Ottawa to let more refugees into Canada.
Imam Daayiee Abdullah, one of two openly gay imams in the world, said he works with Muslim feminist groups.
Both are both challenging conservative Islamic theology, he said.
"They have been doing this longer than we have," he said via video link from Pride celebrations in Oslo, Norway.
He urged activists to think about the alliances they might form.
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