Mercedes Allen

Free speech and the cruel shackles of empathy and mutual respect

Mercedes Allen — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 20:24:20 +0000

In Canada, we tend to value freedom of speech very highly, and it's often said that the best way to counter objectionable speech is with more speech.

That's the first thought that crosses my mind in the case of University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson, who declares in a series of YouTube videos that he will not honour trans* peoples' chosen pronouns, and opposes trans* human rights protections, all in the name of combating "political correctness."

A trans woman's perspective on the disconnect between law enforcement and marginalized communities

Mercedes Allen — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:17:14 +0000

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One of the sticking points that has arisen from Black Lives Matter Toronto's protest and delay of the march at Toronto Pride has been the participation of police in an institutional capacity, rather than simply as LGBTQ and allied individuals. It brings to mind an odd experience a few years ago, which taught me a lot about the nature of the interplay between authorities and marginalized, policed communities.

Canada's forthcoming 'drop your pants' trans blood donation policy

Mercedes Allen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 17:07:22 +0000

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Here's how you can help as the Fort McMurray fires continue to rage (updated)

Mercedes Allen — Wed, 04 May 2016 17:02:28 +0000

Seeing the evacuation and devastation from the fires threatening Fort McMurray brings back wrenching memories of displacement from the High River flood in 2013. Our thoughts are with everyone who has evacuated the region.

Indiana put the lie to 'religious freedom.' But Canadian Evangelicals hope you didn't notice.

Mercedes Allen — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:17:44 +0000

Everyone's familiar with the old adage, "be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it."

Which is why the Evangelical leaders who held a press conference on Parliament Hill calling for greater religious freedom laws and schmoozing with Conservative politicians last month might do well to remember Indiana.

"Unfortunately, Christians in this country find themselves under attack. This is a violation, and we are calling on the Canadian government to stop this type of violation across this country..." -- Charles McVety

Change to trans* rights bill endorses washroom bans

rabble staff — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:19:41 +0000

Canada's trans* human rights bill C-279 was amended by a Senate committee in a way that makes it legal to ban trans* people from washrooms.

Canada's trans* rights bill now endorses washroom bans

Mercedes Allen — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 14:37:40 +0000

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Canada's trans* human rights bill C-279 was amended by a Senate committee, in a way that makes it legal to ban trans* people from washrooms and gendered spaces appropriate to their gender identity.

Leelah Alcorn's suicide demands respect of kids', not parents', rights

Mercedes Allen — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 06:42:31 +0000

On Sunday, December 28, 17-year-old trans* Ohio teenager committed suicide by stepping in front of a tractor-trailer on the interstate. She was killed instantly.

Her tragedy says something profound which has been almost completely missed in the discussion about LGBT-inclusive education and Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) currently wafting across Canada.

How to legislatively 'balance' human rights: You can't.

Mercedes Allen — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 05:19:12 +0000

There is a simple, time-honoured rule about attempting to "balance" human rights classes in legislation so that it works out a particular way every time, and it goes like this:

You can't.

That is a court's role. When two human rights classes are put into conflict in a way that creates hardships for both, a court becomes the arbiter, weighing the context of a given situation in order to determine which party has experienced the most undue hardship.

Legislating in such a way that one party's rights always supersedes the other creates a hierarchy of rights, and defeats the whole purpose of equal rights legislation.

Bill 10

BDSM, Gender, Entitlement and Jian Ghomeshi

Mercedes Allen — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 23:37:00 +0000

Whether anybody wanted the conversation right now or not, it's become time to have a conversation about BDSM, gender and entitlement.

Over a week ago, Jian Ghomeshi, the then-popular then-CBC commentator, appeared to be coming out of the closet about engaging in what he referred to as "rough sex (forms of BDSM)," and claimed to have been fired because of workplace discrimination. The post read as sincere and from the heart (and badly timed because of his father's passing), so we wanted to believe him. For anyone who cares about sex and gender minorities, there was a temptation to circle the wagons and voice support. There was a lot of discussion about the human right to one's own sexuality, but then...

"Wait, what was that about allegations...?"

Sodom: Review of a Russian anti-gay documentary

Mercedes Allen — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 03:09:05 +0000

On Tuesday, October 28, Peter LaBarbera re-entered Canada for an immigration hearing, then to speak at an anti-LGBT conference, and finally on Thursday to face charges for mischief (which stem from an arrest while distributing anti-LGBT leaflets at the University of Regina).

LaBarbera (nicknamed "Porno Pete" by bloggers because of his penchant for filming pride parades and gay BDSM events in the name of "research") has returned to Canada at the invitation of Bill "Anal Warts" Whatcott (so nicknamed because of his fondness for distributing graphic depictions of anal cancers and other deliberate shock leaflets).

On conscience-based medical exemptions

Mercedes Allen — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 02:38:36 +0000

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is currently reviewing its Human Rights Code policy on conscience-based exemptions for medical professionals, and their effect on access to medical services.

This review was sparked by a number of news reports of doctors in Ontario and Alberta refusing to prescribe birth control because of their religious beliefs. In some of those cases, patients were refused in clinics where there was only one doctor on duty.

C-36: Conflating sex work with human trafficking

Mercedes Allen — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 18:51:28 +0000

I recently asked whether the vague definition of "sexual services" and definition of the Internet as a public space could be used to make the anti-prostitution Bill C-36 ban pornography. Regardless of how one feels about porn, such a thing would certainly require a debate, and it's a question worth asking.

I also looked at the obvious aspects of C-36 that have sparked outrage from sex workers, and occasionally even from abolitionists.

Bill C-36, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act: An overview

Mercedes Allen — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 18:38:58 +0000

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I recently asked whether the vague definition of "sexual services" and definition of the Internet as a public space could be used to make the anti-prostitution Bill C-36 ban pornography somehow. Regardless of how one feels about porn, such a thing would certainly require a debate, and it's a question worth asking.

Could anti-prostitution Bill C-36 also ban porn?

Mercedes Allen — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:18:26 +0000

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One of the concerns that has been raised about Bill C-36 is that "sexual services" is not defined.