1990-1999

• Outrageously Offensive Jokes IV by Maude Thickett.  In 1990, a man in Toronto complained to the Toronto Committee on Community and Race Relations that this book was racist and sexist.  After the Toronto City Council asked booksellers to withdraw the book, two national chains removed it from their stores across Canada.  [Freedom to Read Kit, 1996, Challenged Books List, p. 24]
• The Peak.  In 1990, a student Christian Group laid a criminal complaint against this Simon Fraser University student paper; they claimed that it was hate propaganda because it satirically suggested that Pro-Lifers were undemocratic and linked Christians with the sexual behaviours of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.  The RCMP did not lay charges, but called the newspaper's sense of satire "inappropriate."  [Fight Bigotry, Racism with Logic, Not Law, The Vancouver Sun 27 April 1990, p. A14]
• In 1990, the Engineering Undergraduate Society was fined $15,000 by the UBC Student Court for publishing a newsletter that "made fun of natives, women, and Jews." [Fight Bigotry, Racism with Logic, Not Law, The Vancouver Sun 27 April 1990, p. A14]
• By Way of Deception: a Devastating Insider's Portrait of the Mossad by Claire Hoy and Victor Ostrovsky.  In September 1990, the release of this book was temporarily restricted in Canada because it was said to contain "lethal information about Israeli intelligence services."  The Israeli government filed a lawsuit against the Canadian publisher, but the lawsuit did not proceed.  [Freedom to Read Week Kit 1997 Challenged Books List, Book and Periodical Council, p. 36]
• Nioka, Bride of Bigfoot by Paul Doyle.  Canada Customs in Victoria seized a copy of this book, sent by the author to his daughter, Jennifer Doyle.  It was detained due to a passage "depicting a lesbian encounter"; the book was later released. [Customs Finally Gives Book OK, The Province 28 December 1990]
• American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis.  In 1991, the National Action Committee on the Status of Women protested this novel about a serial killer who tortures and murders women, children, and animals.  It was eventually allowed entry into Canada, but was banned from Canadian military bases.  Nelson Public Library refused to carry this book, citing its violent content and lack of patron interest. [Freedom to Read Week February 27-March 5, 1995 Challenged Books List, Book and Periodical Council, p. 3; Library Considers Censorship, Kootenay Weekly Express 24 February 1993]
• Maxine's Tree by Diane Leger.  Published by Orca Books, this children's book is about a girl who wants to save the giant trees of Carmanah Valley.  In February 1992, business agent Murray Cantelon of the International Woodworkers of America, Canadian section,  requested that this book be removed from elementary school libraries in Sechelt until there was a pro-logging book to balance the collection.  Opponents of the book felt it was anti-logging and encouraged children to become "emotionally attached" to trees.  The Sunshine Coast School District rejected the request. [The Vancouver Sun 9 March 1992, p. A11; Woodsman Wants a Ban on Book About Trees, The Vancouver Sun 20 February 1992, p. A3; Freedom to Read Week February 27-March 5, 1995 Challenged Books List, Book and Periodical Council, p. 5]
• Discontent: New Gay Writers.  Canada Customs detained the University of British Columbia's shipment of this title in October 1992.  [Globe and Mail 12 May 1993]
• Hothead Paisan by Dana A. Heller.  Seized from Everywoman's Books in Victoria in November 1992. [Freedom to Read Week February 27-March 5, 1995 A Chronology of Freedom of Expression in Canada, Book and Periodical Council, p. 3]
• The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks. In 1992, a board review committee removed the book from Kamloops school district libraries after receiving a complaint that it was offensive to natives.  Placing warning stickers on the book was suggested, but Banks threatened to sue the school board if this was done.  The book was returned to the schools.  This book won the 1984 Young Readers Choice Award of the Pacific Northwest Library Association and the 1985 California Young Readers Medal.
  Interestingly, Jim Logan, the artist who originally filed the complaint against Indian in the Cupboard came under fire himself for an advertisement for a showing of his paintings at a Kamloops art gallery. A parent complained to the gallery about the ad (which was mass-mailed to Kamloops residents) after her seven year-old daughter pointed out that it included an image of a naked man in a sitting position. [Library Pulls Book for Native Stereotyping, The Vancouver Sun 2 March 1992; The Province, 3 May 1992, p. A11; Tables Turned on Artist Who Sought Book Ban, The Kamloops Daily News 11 Mar 1992, p. A1]
• Sex by Madonna. The release of this publication proved to be a very contentious issue for libraries and bookstores across the province.  Dr. Ronald Jarvis of Duncan BC complained about the availability of this book in public libraries and wrote letters to a North Cowichan councilor and a library board member in June 1993.  He felt the book was pornographic and would lead to an increase in child molestation.  Vancouver Island Regional Library refused to remove the book.
  In 1993, Christian groups demanded it should be taken from the shelves of the Okanagan Regional Library system.  Demands were made to remove this book from the Kelowna Library by two groups; WRAP (White Ribbon Against Pornography) and REAL Women.  Members of these groups stated the book was pornographic and would contribute to rape and murder, and threatened to cut out the pictures in the Library's copy.  Mary Anna Kaiser, the director of WRAP, stated the book must be banned to preserve the "freedoms and safety of children and women." Clerical groups and Vernon Mayor Wayne McGrath protested Okanagan Regional Library's decision to purchase two copies of the book.  Two library committees met and decided the book was not obscene. 
  The Prince George Public Library ordered a copy of Sex; when it arrived, they examined it and felt it was poorly written, the text was difficult to read, lacked content, and that the spiral binding tore the pages. They returned to the book to the publisher.  Complaints were made by parent and church groups about the book at Nanaimo Public Library.  Nelson Public Library also decided not to purchase the book, due to its cost and poor binding. The librarian also felt it only had a short-time interest; she stated that "Where erotica ends and pornography begins is another whole issue in itself."  Summerland Library purchased two copies of the book, and one complaint was filed.  Christians in Action circulated a petition to remove Sex from the shelves of Vancouver Public Library, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver also wanted it removed from the shelves. The book was not purchased by New Westminster Public Library, due to a practice of not purchasing books with "semi-pictorial, pornographic content."  Surrey Public Library had no plans to purchase the book, due to its problematic binding and the fact that it did not "reflect community standards of interest."  The Fraser Valley Regional Library also had no plans to purchase Sex, citing that it was poorly bound. [Doctor's Reaction to Sex Faces Opposition, Cowichan News Leader (Duncan) 14 July 1993; We Need to Exercise Our Rights to Keep Sex Off of Library Shelves, Cowichan News Leader (Duncan) 14 July 1993; Daily News (Vernon) 19 March 1994; The Daily Courier (Kelowna) 29 January 1994; Sex Must be Banned, Kelowna Daily Courier 18 December 1992; Sex Stays in Library, Salmon Arm Observer 17 March 1993; Library Adds Sex to Shelves, Times Review (Revelstoke) 5 March 1993; There'll Be No Sex in the Library, Prince George Citizen 27 February 1993; Library Branch Acting on Requests for Sex, Nanaimo Times 26 November 1992; Summerland Review 26 November 1992; More Sex, The Vancouver Sun 7 December 1992; No Sex: Library Won't Order Madonna Book, The News (New Westminster) 10 November 1992; Library Considers Censorship, Kootenay Weekly Express February 24 1993; Local Book Event Explores Censorship ,Nelson Daily News 28 February 1997; Madonna's Sex Not on Public View, Surrey North Delta Now 4 November 1992; Sex on Your Library Card, The Province 3 November 1992]
• In 1992, two of Bernard Cornwell's books were challenged at the Port Coquitlam library, due to their profanity. [Protecting the Right to Read, Coquitlam Now 2 March 1994]
• Knowing Your Child Through Handwriting and Drawings, by Shirl Solomon.  Challenged at Port Coquitlam library in 1992; a reader questioned the author's qualifications. [Protecting the Right to Read, Coquitlam Now 2 March 1994]
• Use Your Illusion by Guns & Roses.  In 1992, there was a request to remove this album from the Prince George Public Library.  [Tolerance Alive, Well in Prince George, Prince George Citizen 19 December 1992]
• The New American Splendor Anthology by Harvey Pekar.  In May 1992, parents complained to the Burnaby Public Library that this comic book was pornographic and made references to oral sex.  The book was intended for an adult audience. ['Pornographic' Comic Book Proved No Laughing Matter to Boy's Parents, The Vancouver Sun 10 June 10 1992]
• Final Exit by Derek Humphrey.  In September 1992, Surrey teen David Dickson wrote letters of protest to the premier, elected officials, the School Board, and library officials complaining about the availability of this book at Surrey Public Library and other libraries.  This book discussed methods of committing suicide; Dickson was concerned that young people might use the information to kill themselves.   The public library refused to remove their copies.  [Graduate Campaigns to Keep Suicide Book Out of Teen's Hands, The Vancouver Sun 25 September 1992; Stifling Debate Through Censorship Won't Stop Suicides, The Vancouver Sun, 5 October 1992]
• War Against the Family by William Gardiner.  In 1993, Duthie Books of Vancouver refused to stock this title due to its "red neck attitudes." [The Vancouver Sun, 26 January 1993; Globe and Mail, January 20, 1993]
• Dirty Movies: An Illustrated History of the Stag Film 1915-1970 (author unknown).  In 1993, patron Ken Borno requested that this book be purchased by the Burnaby Public Library.  The library refused.  [Porn Advocate Angry Over Library Book-Ban, The Province 16 May 1994]
• Use Your Illusion by Guns & Roses.  In 1993, a parent complained that his eight-year-old son had borrowed this CD, with lyrics containing profanities, from Surrey Public Library.  SPL promised to review their policies. [Dirty Lyrics Spark Library Review, Surrey/North Delta Now 7 July 1993]
• In 1993, an unknown person or persons ripped out numerous pages that referred to Nazism from books in the University of British Columbia's Main Library.  Many of the vandalized books were irreplaceable and damage was estimated at $10,000.  [Maureen Kuch: Off the Shelf, Vernon Morning Star 28 February 1993]
• Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka and Their New Friend by Maj Lindman, Devils and Demons (author unknown), and Meet the Werewolf by Georgess McHargue.  Challenged in 1993 at the Port Moody Public Library. No reasons were given. [Protecting the Right to Read, Coquitlam Now 2 March 1994]
• The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis.  Challenged in 1993 at the Port Coquitlam Public Library, because it "puts animals down." [Protecting the Right to Read, Coquitlam Now 2 March 1994]
• Stern.  Complaint by Wil Bosma to the Burnaby Public Library over the cover of the April 1993 issue of this German magazine.  The image showed woman nude from the breasts down with a boy's head covering her genitals.  Bosma circulated a petition for the magazine's removal, calling it indecent and degrading to women. [PoCo Man Makes Stern Measures, Burnaby and New West News 30 May 1993, p. 7]
• Impressions.  Complaints from a parent group called Citizens for Quality Education in Burns Lake to ban this province-wide reading series, used since 1985 to teach reading skills in grades one to six.  Reasons given were that the stories were frightening and taught about the occult, promoted violence, undermined parental authority, and discredited "basic human morals."  In May 1993, the School Board voted to remove the books from six elementary schools. [Parents' Pressure Leads Trustees to Vote to Scrap Reading Series, The Vancouver Sun 10 May 1993, p. A3; Freedom to Read Week February 27-March 5, 1995 Challenged Books List, Book and Periodical Council, p. 4]
• The Admiral's Wolf Pack by Jean Noli.  Challenged in 1994 at the Port Moody Public Library, no reason given. [Protecting the Right to Read, Coquitlam Now 2 March 1994]
• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, and Magic Ball (author unknown).  In 1994, Coquitlam library's children's librarian Deborah Duncan stated that Scary Stories "is always getting challenged" because it talks about the occult."  Magic Ball, a collection of British animations, was challenged as being anti-Chinese.  [Protecting the Right to Read, Coquitlam Now 2 March 1994]
• Xtra! West.  This gay and lesbian free newspaper was banned from distribution at Granville Island Market. Reasons given for its removal were that there was not enough room for the free publication, and that the personal ads were too sexually graphic.  The ban was later rescinded.  [Granville Island Bans Gay/Lesbian Newspaper, The Vancouver Sun 5 January 1994, p. B4; Gay-Lesbian Paper Banned, The Vancouver Sun 14 December 1994, p. B6] 
• Guy to Goddess: An Intimate Look at Drag Queens by Bill Richardson.  In 1994, this book was removed from sale at gift shops of BC Ferries.  After public pressure it was reinstated.  [Too Spicy Cook Book Gets Pulled From Shelves of BC Ferry Fleet, The Vancouver Sun 17 February 1998, p. B8]
• Against Pornography by Diana Russell.  In May 1994, self-described "porno connoisseur" Ken Borno requested that Burnaby Public Library purchase this book.  Chief Librarian Paul Whitney felt that the book "exceeded public tolerance for sexually explicit material" and refused to purchase it.  The BC Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee supported Borno's request.  Russell wrote the book, which contains graphic illustrations, as an argument against pornography. [Porn Advocate Angry Over Library Book-Ban, The Province 16 May 1994; Censorship Charge Made, Burnaby Now 18 May 1994; Why Ban a Book Against Pornography?, Burnaby News 5 June 1994]
• No Place for Me by Barthe De Clements, Keepers of the Earth, and Random House Book of Humor.  New Traditional Elementary School in Surrey restricted three books, all part of a standard BC elementary school package, because these books discussed native spirituality and Wiccan religion.   A group of parents had noticed these titles while unpacking the books for the school library. No Place for Me, by Barthe De Clements is about a teen with an alcoholic parent who is helped by a Wiccan aunt; Heather Stilwell, co-founder of the school and parent, called it "emotionally manipulative," and claimed that it proselytized the Wiccan religion. Keepers of the Earth discusses native traditions and the environment.  Random House Book of Humor contains a story by Ronald Dahl about a witch who hated kids.  The three books were moved to a teachers-only section; due to public pressure, the Surrey School Board voted to keep the books in the library, and they were returned to the stacks. [Books Involving Witchcraft, Indian Beliefs Stay in Traditional School, The Vancouver Sun 20 December 1994, p. B7; Freedom to Read Week Kit 1997 Challenged Books List, Book and Periodical Council, p. 35]
• New American and Canadian Poetry.  Compilation of 1960's poetry, including works by Margaret Atwood, George Bowering, Geof Hewitt, and Patrick Lane.  The School Board removed it from the shelves of Chatelech Secondary School library in Sechelt after a parent complained that it contained profanity, violence, and had "anti-war and anti-establishment poems."  The book also contained a poem by Geof Hewitt, entitled "Behind That Wall My Roommate Fucks His Girl."  Teachers were still allowed to use the compilation as a resource. [Poetry Book Banned From School, The Vancouver Sun 16 December 1994, p. B6; Adverse to Verse, The Province 18 December 1994, p. A2]
• Xtra! West. In 1994, there were complaints that this free Gay-Lesbian newspaper, distributed with other free publications at public libraries in the Fraser Valley, contained sexually explicit personal ads and could "corrupt" children if they had access to it.  In November 23, 1994, the Fraser Valley Regional Library Board (FVRL) passed a motion allowing municipal councils to drop any free publications from their library that they felt conflicted with "community standards".  Mission, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, then Langley voted to remove the newspaper from their public libraries.  Representatives of the councils felt that the newspaper would be harmful to children; the Maple Ridge mayor, Carl Durksen, personally removed copies of the paper from the Maple Ridge Library. This issue sparked intense debate in the media throughout the province.  Some libraries reported that persons who were against Xtra! West would take all the copies from the library; staff would later find the copies in the garbage.  The Fraser Valley Regional Library Board was advised that the ban violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  To prevent this violation, on February 8th 1995, the Board decided to allow libraries in the FVRL system to ban all free publications that contained paid advertising.  This decision affected more than forty newspapers and magazines, among them The Georgia Straight, Christian Info News, Common Ground, The Computer Player, Independent Senior, BC Book World, Block Parent, The Children's Reader, RV World, Abbotsford Times, Langley Times, and City Food. 
Due to intense public outcry, they rescinded the ban on March 8, 1995.  The Board decided that the newspapers could be returned to the libraries, as long as Xtra! West and newspapers believed to have "excessive sexual content" were placed behind a counter or stored on a shelf more than 1.75 meters from the library floor. [Abbotsford Times 7 December 1994; Fraser Valley Record (Mission) 7 December 1994; Abbotsford/Clearbrook News (Abbotsford) 14 December 1994; Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times 14 December 1994; The Vancouver Sun 16 January 1995; Gay Paper Back, Mayor Not Happy, Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times 12 March 1995; The Vancouver Sun 9 February 1995; The Vancouver Sun 10 February 1995; The Hope Standard 1 May 1995; Library to Lift Ban on Free Papers, Magazines, The Vancouver Sun 23 February 1995; Ban Takes Ugly Turn, Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times, 12 March 1995; Gay-Lesbian Paper Banned, The Vancouver Sun 14 December 1994, p. B6; Langley Joins Gay Paper Ban, The Province 13 January 1995, p. A24; Gay Paper Expected to Return to Libraries, The Vancouver Sun 6 February 1995, p. B2]
• The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein and Felice Picano.  In March 1995, after being on the Kamloops library shelf for two years, a complaint was received about its presence in the library.  Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library (TNRDL) directors voted to remove the book and make it available by request only. [Kamloops This Week 26 March 1995; TNRD Directors Approve Gay Sex Book for Library, The Kamloops Daily News 24 March 1995]
• Twisted Sisters 2 ed. by Diane Noomin.  Anthology of stories written and illustrated by women, seized by Canada Customs on August 15, 1995 while enroute to Vancouver artist, contributor and Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design instructor, Carol Moiseiwitsch.  She had previously received six copies without incident.  It was detained under Memorandum D9 1-1 of the Customs Tariff Act; "detention and prohibition of materials that are obscene, hate propaganda, treasonous and seditious."  [Customs Twisted Out of Shape Over Book, The Vancouver Sun 26 August 1995, p. H1]
• Dungeons and Dragons game material.  In May 1995, a 1,000-name petition was submitted to Richmond Public Library to ban this material from the library.  Petitioners claimed the game was linked with suicide and murder, and that it glorified death, the occult, witchcraft, and demonology. [Richmond News 7 May 1996]
• Head Hunter by Michael Slade.  Challenged at Whistler Public Library by a patron, on the grounds that it did not promote "good Christian values," and that it was offensive and gruesome. The Board considered the complaint, read the book, and decided to keep it.  [The Whistler Question 23 February 1998 (1998:2); Freedom to Read Week, The Whistler Question 27 February 1995]
• In September 1995 the Abbotsford School Board reversed its requirement that science teachers teach "alternatives to the theory of evolution" (i.e. Creationism) in Biology 11 and Biology 12 classes. The reversal came after Art Charbonneau, then provincial Education Minister threatened to fire the entire School Board over the issue. In June 1995, when the board initially refused to change its policy, Charbonneau revised the Grade 11 and Grade 12 biology curriculum to make it clear that teaching creationism as a part of science is not permissible in B.C. schools. [Board Retreats on Creationism, Vancouver Sun 16 September 1995, p. A5]
• The Turner Diaries by William Pierce.  In 1996, this novel was banned by Canada Customs as hate literature.  This novel, originally published in 1978, is about white supremacists beginning a race war.  [Freedom to Read Week Kit 1997 Challenged Books List, Book and Periodical Council, p. 39]
• The Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein and Edmund White.  Request received by the Thompson Nicola Regional District Library in 1996 to remove this book.  The book was kept but "put out of reach of young children." [1,100-Name Petition Calls for Removal of Satanic Bible from Library System, The Daily News (Kamloops) 7 March 1997]
• One Dad Two Dads Brown Dads Blue Dads by Johnny Valentine, Asha's Mums by Rosamund Elwin and Michel Paulse, and Belinda's Bouquet by Leslea Newman and Michael Willhoite.  In January of 1997, James Chamberlain, an elementary school teacher at Latimer Road Elementary School in Surrey, submitted the three books for Board approval for use in his grade one class. Chamberlain had used the books in his previous classes.  He had first proposed adding the three books, and a list of others, to the Ministry of Education for addition to their list of recommended resources, but they had refused.  On April 24th, after reviewing the books for three and a half months, a process that generally takes thirty days, the Board decided to ban the books for use in all Surrey classrooms, on the grounds that they were not appropriate.  The books, however, remained in school libraries, but could not removed for use in the classroom. Arguments for their inclusion were made by the Gay and Lesbian Educators of British Columbia (GALE BC), the BC Civil Liberties Association, and the parents of Chamberlain's students.  Families of eighteen of the twenty students of Chamberlain's class petitioned the Board to approve the books. 
The Board did not discuss the issue, but instead sent a survey to the parents of the district.  The survey stated that the Board disapproved of the materials, and asked "Do you agree with the use of materials such as books, videos and/or presentations from the Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC for classroom instruction for Kindergarten through Grade seven?"  It also asked which of the parties should decide on "sensitive" books for the classroom.  The survey showed that 61% of the respondents felt that the books shouldn't be used in kindergarten or grade one; 51% of people surveyed felt that the books were appropriate for older children, while 36% didn't want them at all.  As for who should decide on educational materials, 32% believed that the board should, 29% the teachers, and 30% for "other".  It is important to note, however, that 55% of the 502 residents surveyed were not parents with children in the Surrey school system. This survey was criticized for its bias; at no point in the survey were people asked if they had ever seen the books. The Board was also criticized for the expense of the survey, and the District Parents Advisory Committee (DPAC), a group of parents with children in Surrey schools which acts as an advisory council, voted to urge the Board to rescind the survey. The BC Human Rights Commission declared that the survey was discriminatory because it singled out an identifiable group for discrimination. 
Premier Glen Clark and Minister of Education Paul Ramsey, as well as teachers, parents, and gay activists criticized the ban.  On May 8 1997, the Surrey Teachers Association (STA) filed a grievance against the Board, claiming that it had created a homophobic environment that discriminates against gay and lesbian teachers.  The school workers' collective agreement stated that teachers' workplaces must be free of discrimination, be it discrimination based on race, colour creed, age, sex or sexual orientation.
On May 20th, the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) hired MacIntyre and Mustel Research to conduct a survey of parents in BC.  Their question was "There has been some debate lately regarding how educators should approach or present homosexuality to students.  Some believe that students should be taught to treat homosexuals as they would other people.  Others believe that students should be taught that homosexuality is unnatural and should be discouraged.  Which view is closer to your own?" Results of the BCTF poll were released, and showed that 73% were in favour of teaching "tolerance" of homosexuality.  The BCTF survey was criticized in BC Report magazine.  They claimed that the survey offered a "false dichotomy", as Christianity teaches to "love the sinner but hate the sin", thus making an answer to the question difficult for Christians to answer.
In June 1997, the Citizen's Research Institute and Concerned Parents for Quality Education held a rally in support of the Board at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.  In July of 1997, Murray Warren and Diane Wilcott, supported by the BC Civil Liberties Association and EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) announced that they were taking the Board to court.  Warren is a teacher, gay activist and media spokesperson for Gay and Lesbian Educators of British Columbia.  Wilcott is a founding member of Heterosexuals Exposing Paranoia (HEP), the chair of DPAC, and a parent of a child in a Surrey school.  On August 1, they filed a petition in the Supreme Court of BC, against the Board of trustees for School District #36. Petitioners included James Chamberlain, Murray Warren, high school student Blaine Cook (by his guardian Sue Cook), Diane Wilcott and Rosamund Elwin, the author of Asha's Mums.  The petitioners held fundraisers to raise the money for the lawsuit, while the Board relied on funds given to the school district from the province. In August, the BC Civil Liberties Association established the Surrey Schools Banned-Book Defence Fund, and later in November the BCTF donated $40,000 to the case.  On September 30th, Canadian children's authors Robert Munsch and Dennis Lee joined the petition.
From June 29-July 10, 1998, the case was held in BC Supreme Court by Justice Mary Saunders.  Joseph Arvay, the lawyer for the petitioners, argued that the Board's decisions went against the School Act of BC and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: (2a) freedom of religion; (2b) freedom of expression; and (15) equality rights.  John Dives represented the Board in this hearing, and claimed that the books made moral statements about gays and lesbians that conflicted with some of the parent's religious beliefs in Surrey.
On December 16th, Saunders ruled in favour of the petitioners. She stated that the Board was influenced by religious belief and thus acted against sections 76(1) and (2) of the School Act; "76 (1)-All schools must be conducted in strictly secular and non-sectarian principles; 76 (2)-The highest morality must be inculcated, but no religious dogma or creed is to be taught in a school or Provincial school."  In consideration of this, she stated that at least one of the trustees was involved in politics advocating a greater role for religion in government, and therefore believed that the Board's decisions were probably influenced by personal religious beliefs.
Please refer too the 2000- section to see how the case progressed from 2000 onward. [Training, Expertise and Impartiality Be Damned, BC Report 8, no. 42 (16 June 1997) ; 61% of Surrey Adults Back Ban on Gay Parent Books, Poll Says, The Vancouver Sun 27 February 1998, p. B1; Book Banning in Surrey-What Happened?  Egale.  Online.  Available : www.egale.ca /features/surrey.htm.  2 October 2000; Training, Expertise and Impartiality Be Damned, BC Report 8, no. 42 (16 June 1997); Book Ban Breaks the Law: Following is an Excerpt From the Supreme Court of B.C.'s Wednesday Ruling against the Surrey School Board's Ban on Young People's Books With Homosexual Content, Vancouver Sun 17 December 1998, p. A19; Chamberlain, et. al. v. The Board of Trustees of School District #36 (Surrey): Petition Amended Pursuant to Rule 24(1)(b).  A972046.  Supreme Court of British Columbia.  23 June 1998 (original petition filed 1 August 1997).  Online.  Available : http://bigots-ban-books.lesbigay.com/opening.htm.  25 September 2000]
• Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey.  In March 1997, a petition was circulated to remove the book from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library System; one copy of this book was available in the downtown Kamloops Branch.  More than 1100 signed the petition, requesting its removal on the basis that it contained rituals to conjure Satan and promoted lewd and violent behaviour.  A protestor stated that the Satanic Bible "tends to lead toward moral, criminal and sexual behavior and may lead to acts which contravene the Criminal Code of Canada."  Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library directors turned down the request.  [1,100-Name Petition Calls for Removal of Satanic Bible from Library System, The Daily News (Kamloops) 7 March 1997; Petition Targets Book, The Morning Star (Vernon) 9 March 1997; Library Directors Back Satan, The Province 23 March 1997]
• Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Sexual Fantasies by Nancy Friday.  Compilation of the sexual fantasies of 150 women. In May 1997, BC RCMP, acting on a Winnipeg city police memo stating that the book contained violence and child pornography, searched several libraries in the province for this book.  They believed that it contravened the Criminal Code section dealing with obscene material and child pornography.   At the Merritt Public Library, RCMP claimed to have a court order to seize the book, but did not produce the order; the director, Alice Dalton, advised her staff not to comply. The RCMP later dropped plans to seize the book. [RCMP Raids Libraries for Sex Bestseller, The Vancouver Sun 17 May 1997, pp. A1, A19; RCMP Attempts to Seize Book Stimulates Interest, Sales, The Vancouver Sun 20 May 1997, pp. B1, B2; The Vancouver Sun 21 May 1997; RCMP tries to seize sexual-fantasy book, Calgary Herald, May 18, 1997, p.A6]
• The Bible.  On June 11 1997, the Central Okanagan School District Trustees voted to ban the in-class distribution of bibles from the Gideons.  A representative had been giving classroom presentations as well as Bibles to grade five students in Kelowna for the past twenty-six years.  This was felt to be in violation of the School Act, which prohibits "religious dogma" from being taught in schools.  [Bible Banning in Kelowna, BC Report 8, no. 44 (June 30 1997), p. 30]
• Xtra! West.  In 1997, there was a request from a Surrey resident to put this biweekly gay and lesbian newspaper in a different part of the library at Surrey Public Library.  The library refused. [Now (Surrey) 17 May 1997] 
• Scrambled Brains, written by Pierre LeBlanc and Robin Konstabaris and illustrated by Robin Konstabaris.  In February 1998, BC Ferries removed this cookbook from their gift store because they felt that it was "inappropriate," and that they had a policy of not selling books "of a controversial nature."  The cookbook contained a recipe for Pot Kookies and contained semi-nude cartoon illustrations. [Globe and Mail 21 February 1998; The Vancouver Sun 20 February 1999; Too Spicy Cook Book Gets Pulled From Shelves of BC Ferry Fleet, The Vancouver Sun 17 February 1998, p. B8; BC Ferries Throws Counter Culture Cookbook Overboard, Globe and Mail 18 February 1998, p. A9]
• In March 1998, members of the Oliver town council cancelled a "free-speech" meeting organized by Bernard Klatt, owner of an internet service provider complay. Klatt's company was investigated by police because his clients included neo-nazi groups such as the Charlemagne Hammer Skinheads. These groups allegedly posted anti-Semitic material that may violate the Criminal Code of Canada. At the same time, then British Columbia Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh called upon Ottawa to toughen Criminal Code hate laws as they apply to the Internet. Dosanjh said to a group gathered for the United Nations International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination: "current laws are obsolete, they're ancient, they unenforceable, they're weak and as a result they make us weak…I want Ottawa to give me a new law, to give you a new law, so that we can eliminate this evil from British Columbia once and for all." [B.C. Town Officials Crimp Plans for 'Free-Speech' Meeting, Globe and Mail 23 March 1998, p. A3]
• World Religions by William Jabobs. In March of 1998 Dr. Rizwana Rahim of Chicago wrote to Burnaby Public Library requesting that the children's book be removed from the library collection because of an "inappropriate and unfairly negative tone on Mohammed." In May of 1998 the library board voted to remove the book from the collection "due to possible historical inaccuracies as a result of editorial error which are of particular concern as the book is aimed at juvenile readers." [Minutes of Burnaby Public Library Board Meeting - 14 May 1998]
• In May 1998 the Victoria Library Board voted to retain its open policy on who can rent meeting rooms in the library. The vote came after the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island asked the board to adopt a policy that would deny library space to individuals or groups that promote hatred against people on the basis of race, religion and other factors, including sexual orientation. The meeting room at the branch in Colwood had been booked by controversial Victoria lawyer Doug Christie and his Canadian Free Speech League, prompting protests from members of the community who feel that Christie's group promotes hate. Defending the board's decision to maintain an open policy on meeting room bookings, library board Chairman Neil Williams explained: "We consider ourselves to be guardians of freedom of speech. I don't want to see the issue hijacked by fringe groups on the far right." [Libraries Uphold Policy of Open Access to Meeting Rooms, Times-Colonist 27 May 1998, p. 1]
• Georgia Straight.  Weekly Vancouver free newspaper removed from distribution on BC Transit property in August 1998 due to a complaint that one of its columns was sexually explicit.  The paper was reviewed by transit officials and reinstated.  [BC Transit Bans Newspaper Over Views on Homosexuality, Abortion, Vancouver Sun 12 September 1998, p. A3]
• BC Christian News.  In September 1998, BC Transit refused to allow free distribution of this magazine on its property due to the publication's negative opinions on homosexuality and abortion.  BC Transit cited the Crown Corporation policy that they followed, which was a policy of not carrying "offensive" material. They later changed their policy and allowed the paper to be freely distributed. [BC Transit Reviewing Christian Paper Ban, The Vancouver Sun 18 September 1998, p. A6; Transit Authority Won't Be Censor, Edmonton Journal 17 October 1998, p. A15]
• In November 1999, students at the University of British Columbia were caught on videotape overturning tables and ripping up the posters of a highly publicized anti-abortion display. When the display's organizers requested that an injunction be granted to protect their free speech rights, UBC administration responded by saying that while on campus, students have only those free speech rights that the university may choose to extend to them: "UBC recognizes the plaintiff's contractual right to conduct presentations of this or other types pursuant to the terms of any licence granted by UBC. UBC does not agree that in conducting the presentation the plaintiffs are exercising any other contractual, common law or constitutional rights as alleged in the claim." [When Liberty Loses Out, Vancouver Sun 02 March 2000]

Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium

Although materials bound for Little Sister's have been detained or seized by Customs since 1986, the sheer magnitude of the materials involved requres its own section in this compilation.

The battle between Little Sister's and Canada Customs began in 1986 when a large shipment of books and magazines was detained.  The shipment included The Advocate, Querelle by Jean Genet, Teleny by Oscar Wilde, Dancing on My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland, and Dzelarhons by Anne Cameron.  Little Sister's and the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) went to Federal court in 1987 over the seizure of The Advocate; the hearing never took place as Customs suddenly reversed its position and allowed the magazine into BC.  Unfortunately, Customs had already burned the copies that had been seized.  Little Sister's then decided to challenge the law that allowed the seizures to occur.  In 1990, Little Sister's and the BCCLA filed a constitutional challenge against Custom's censorship powers on the basis that they limited freedom of expression and discriminated against gay and lesbian authors and readers.  The case was postponed numerous times.  Meanwhile, Customs continued to seize and detain materials bound to Little Sister's.  In 1993, the International PEN writers union condemned custom's seizure, and called on the government "to dismantle the system which permits such seizures to take place."  Also in 1993, a domestic parcel sent from Penguin Canada in Ontario to Little Sister's was rerouted to Customs by Canada Post and inspected.  This action was against the rules of both organizations, which claimed that the action was a mistake.  The parcel contained copies of Shroud of Shadow, a fantasy/science fiction novel by Gael Baudino.  The BC Civil Liberties Association denounced Custom's action.  On January 19, 1996, Little Sister's lost their challenge to the law.  The bookstore appealed, but in June 1998, the BC Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's decision.  They then appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. 
Meanwhile, two more shipments were seized in August 1996; among the materials seized was the children's book Belinda's Bouquet, by Leslea Newman and Michael Willhoite. To help fundraise for their court costs, Little Sister's published a book entitled Forbidden Passages, introduction by Pat Califia and Janine Fuller.  This book contained excerpts from books that Customs had banned from entry into Canada.  Published by Cleis Press in the United States, this book was turned down by three Canadian printers and distributors (Gagne, Webcom, and Metropole Litho Inc.), largely due to concerns about reprisals from Customs.  The book was finally printed and distributed by Marginal Distribution of Peterborough. 
When the case was finally heard in the Supreme Court, on December 15, 2000, the Court ruled that the importer would no longer have to prove that materials were not obscene; rather, the law was changed and the onus was placed on the government to prove that materials they seized were obscene.  The federal government was also ordered to pay Little Sister's court costs.  Over the past fifteen years, thousands of books were seized by Canada Customs enroute to Little Sister's.  The following is a sample of the confiscated books and magazines.
1993 Australian Gay and Lesbian Short Story Anthology, The Advocate, Afterglow ed. by Karen Barber, Bad Attitude, Bedrooms Have Windows, Belinda's Bouquet by Leslea Newman and Michael Willhoite, The Best Gay Erotica, Best Guide to Amsterdam, The Best Lesbian Erotica, Black Looks: Race and Representation by Bell Hooks, Body Piercing, Caught Looking, Cherry by Charlotte Cooper, Coming Along Fine by Wes Muchmore and William Hanson, Coming to Power, Cut/Uncut, Dancing on My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland, Death Trick, Doc and Fluff by Pat Califia, Drummer, Dungeon Master, Dzelarhons: Mythology of the Northwest Coast by Anne Cameron, Empire of the Senseless by Kathy Acker, Erotic Poems from the Greek Anthology by John Gill and Edward Carlos, Flesh and the Word, Frisk, Gay Ideas by Richard D. Mohr, Gay Roots: Twenty Years of Gay Sunshine by Winston Leyland, Harold Norse: Love Poems 1940-1985 by Harold Norse, Herotica, Hothead Paisan #7, I Had a Master by John Preston, In the Tent, Introducing Amanda Valentine by Rose Beecham, Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein and Edmund White, The Joy of Lesbian Sex, Leading Edge, Lion Warriors by Don Harrison, Love and Rockets Sketchbook 2 by Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez, Macho Sluts by Pat Califia, Meatmen by Winston Leyland, Melting Point by Pat Califia, The Men With the Pink Triangle by Heinz Heger, Muscle Bound Roman Conquests,
My Deep Dark Pain is Love by Winston Leyland, E.A. Lacey, and Jorge G. Maier, The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp, New York Native, On Our Backs, Oriental Guys #3,4,5 and 6, Out of Bounds, Outlook, Outrage, Parisian Lives by Samuel M. Steward, Passport #78, Prick Up Your Ears, Querelle by Jean Genet, Quim #4, Raging Peace by Artemis Oak Grove, Restless Rednecks: Gay Tales of a Changing South by Roy F. Wood, RFD #73, Rushes by John Rechy, Safestud by Max Exander (gay safe sex manual, previous edition titled "Stud" not detained at border), Salome by Oscar Wilde, The Satanic Verses, The Sexual Outlaw by John Rechy, The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams, Shadow of Love, Shroud Of Shadow, by Gael Baudino, Slashed to Ribbons in Defense of Love, The Smile of Eros, The Story of O, Straight Heart's Delight by Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, Winston Leyland, Richard Avedon, Robert La Vigne and Elsa Dorfman, Street Lavender, Stroke, Surprising Myself, Tear-drops on My Drum, Teleny by Oscar Wilde, This Universe of Men by Greg Logan and R.A. Shultz, Three Literary Friendships by John Lehman, The Throne Council, Tom of Finland Retrospective, Uncertainty of Strangers, Urban Aboriginals by Geoffrey Mains and Robert Pruzan, Warriors for Love, The Wings of the Phoenix by Florine De Veer, Woman Hating by Andrea Dworkin, The Young in One Another's Arms by Jane Rule. [Burton Slams Customs at Little Sisters Hearing, Globe and Mail 22 October 1994, p. C2; Customs Seizure of Book on 'Safe Sex' Deplored, The Vancouver Sun  13 October 1994, p. B4; What's Really Gross About Little Sister's Trials, The Vancouver Sun 7 February 1995, p. A13; Top Court to Hear Case on Customs Seizing Gay Books, The National Post 19 February 1999, p. A8; U.S. Booksellers Condemn Canada Customs censorship, The Toronto Star 1 June 1994, p.D4; National Post, 16 December 2000; Globe & Mail, 20 September 1995, p. A11; Freedom to Read Kit, 1997, Challenged Books List, p. 35; Restricted Entry (2nd ed) by Janine Fuller and Stuart Blackley, p. 20; Canada Customs Seizes Sex Novel, PlanetOut Website 03 October 2002, http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2002/10/03/2]