Canadian Immigration Minister Deletes Gay References

Tory citizenship and immigration minister Jason Kenney edited out references to gay and lesbian rights last year in a Canadian government manual for immigrants applying for citizenship.

According to The Province of British Columbia, reports say that Kenney ordered the deletion of two paragraphs in June pertaining to the decriminalization of homosexuality, nationwide marriage equality, and nondiscrimination against gay people. The paragraphs were to be added to the new 63-page study guide that replaced a 1995 version.

"According to the Canadian Press, the draft included this paragraph under a section titled Towards a Modern Canada: 'Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969 and more recently, civil marriage rights to same-sex couples was legalized nationwide in 2005,'" reports The Province.

"Under the section on citizenship rights, the earlier draft said: 'Equality Rights -- Canadians are protected against discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or age.'"

A senior official tried to reinsert the two paragraphs before the manual was published in November, but Kenney refused to yield, according to The Province.

Kenney, who represents a district in Calgary, opposed marriage equality when it was debated in Canada.