CANADA CUSTOMS
Censorship [and Canada Customs]. By Gens Hellquist.
P15 [1985]: 6 (34cm.)
Canada Customs [and censorship of gay material]. By Gens Hellquist.
P22 [1986]: 26-27 (36cm.)
[The Body Politic appeal against seizure by Canada Customs of lesbian sex video,
which includes "Private Pleasures" and "Shadows"]. From Rites.
P26 [1986]: 9 (7cm.)
Canada Customs [Canadian Committee Against Customs Censorship (CCACC)
challenging Canada Customs in court over banning of The Joy of Gay Sex].
By Gens Hellquist.
P28 [1986]: 28 (23cm.)
[Glad Day, Toronto bookshop, goes to court over The Joy of Gay Sex].
From Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.
P30 [misnumbered 29] [1987]: 12 (10cm.)
They strike again [Canada Customs and Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium,
Vancouver]. From Angles and H. Chudyk.
P30 [misnumbered 29] [1987]: 29 (37cm.)
Tom, Jim & Canada Customs [personal account of author regarding seizure of some
drawings by Tom of Finland; author's description of experience with the appeals
procedure]. By Jim Graham.
P31 (March 11, 1987): 7-8 (53cm.)
Glad Day challenge [appeal of ban on importation of The Joy of Gay Sex went to Ontario
District Court January 19]. From Rites/H. Chudyk.
P31 (March 11, 1987): 12-13 (41cm.)
Victory for Joy of Gay Sex [Judge Bruce Hawkins, Ontario District Court, rules book not
obscene; book had been seized, with others, in December 1986 by Canada
Customs from Glad Day shipment]. By Harold Chudyk.
P32 (April 29, 1987): 25 (36cm.)
Customs still having seizures [books for Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto, and Vancouver
Women's Bookstore seized].
P35 (Sept. 9, 1987): 10 (8cm.)
Canada Customs sued [newsnote that British Columbia Civil Liberties Association will
sue over Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium shipment seizure; mention of
earlier Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto, issue concerning The Joy of Gay Sex].
P42 (June 29, 1988): 11-12 (19cm.)
Customs censorship. By Gens Hellquist.
P44 (Sept, 21, 1988): 21 (30cm.)
Continued Customs seizures [of Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto, shipments]. From
newsnotes compiled by Gens Hellquist.
P45 (Nov. 9, 1988): 31-32 (24cm.)
Little Sisters wins [challenge arising from seizure of Advocate copies].
P46 (v7n1)(Jan. 18, 1989): 5 (33cm.)
Customs strikes again [against Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto].
P47 (v7n2)(March 1, 1989): 7 (21cm.)
Back to court [Glad Day planning to launch another court case against Canada Customs
activities; Little Sister's (Vancouver) and L'Androgyne (Montreal) also have
shipments seized regularly].
P48 (v7n3)(April 12, 1989): 7-8 (22cm.)
[Canada] Customs taken to court [by B.C. Civil Liberties Association and Little Sister's
Book and Art Emporium over "censorship of erotic literature"].
P58 (v8n5)(July 11, 1990): 12, 17 (13cm.)
Fighting Customs [Canada Customs censorship being fought by Canadian Committee
Against Customs Censorship, which won earlier case regarding The Joy of Gay
Sex; Canada Customs continues censorship under internal memorandum D9-1-1;
Committee has court date in new challenge; see also related article, "No Gay
Sex," on same page, re printing of Alyson Publications work, Gay Sex].
P71 (v10n2)(March 18, 1992): 19 (31 plus 10 cm.)
We're "irrelevant"? [Ontario Divisional Court judge Frederick Hayes reserved
judgement May 15 in case brought by the Canadian Committee Against Customs
Censorship against Canada Customs use of Memorandum D9-1-1 for censorship
of gay anal intercourse depiction; Crown argued that gays and lesbians were
"statistically irrelevant" and couldn't be included in representation of national
community standard; etc.].
P73 (v10n4)(June 10, 1992): 12, 17 (25cm.)
Gay sex: "obscene" [Glad Day Bookshop loses case on July 15; Judge Frank Hayes
ruled all gay magazines seized were obscene; ruling based on Butler decision
of Supreme Court of Canada; specific titles mentioned].
P75 (v10n6)(Sept. 16, 1992): 21 (24cm.)
Still seizing books [in July, Canada Customs seized more than 130 books destined for
After Stonewall, gay bookstore in Ottawa].
P83 (v11n6)(Sept. 15, 1993): 20 (23cm.)
The fight against censorship: Little Sister's vs. Big Brother ["they have unlimited
amounts of our money to spend against us"]. By Peter Millard.
P84 (v11n7)(Oct. 27, 1993): 6-7 (112cm.)
Continued harassment [Canada Customs continues detention of books destined for
Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium; Canada Customs has stalled Little
Sister's court case and expenses growing; etc.].
P86 (v12n1)(Jan. 26, 1994)[cover date Jan. 24/94]: 21 (30cm.)
Growing support [for Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium, Vancouver bookstore,
in fight against Canada Customs censorship; court case will be heard Oct. 11;
American Booksellers Association unanimously supported motion to end
censorship at Canadian border; Canadian Bookseller's Association developing
plan for donation to defense fund; etc.].
P90 (v12n5)(July 27, 1994): 22 (23cm.)
Editorial [concerning the actions of Canada Customs in seizing incoming materials, with
reference to Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium and the piercing jewellery of
a gay Vancouver businessman].
P91 (v12n6)(Sept. 14, 1994): 3 (13cm.)
Will they never stop? [Canada Customs again seizes print material by Canadians --
Bizarre Dreams anthology co-edited by Caro Soles of Toronto and published in
New York, also a manuscript by Robert Lally on its way back from American
literary agent; Alex Steele, Vancouver small businessman, had piercing
jewellery shipments seized].
P91 (v12n6)(Sept. 14, 1994): 23 (16cm.)
Dignity [observations and comments of author, who attended opening of the trial,
October 11, 1994, in which Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium sues
Canadian Minister of Justice (Canada Customs) in British Columbia Supreme
Court, Vancouver]. By Peter Millard.
P92 (v12n7)(Oct. 26, 1994): 4 (78cm.)
; see also related news report, titled
"In court at last," P92:20.
Anal sex OK now [says Canada Customs on Sept. 29/94 at pre-trial for Little Sister's
Book and Art Emporium lawsuit against Canada Customs; etc.].
P92 (v12n7)(Oct. 26, 1994): 14 (16cm.)
Little Sister's in court [report of continuation of trial in British Columbia Supreme Court
of lawsuit of Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium against Canada Customs;
report of testimony of Pierre Berton, Nino Ricci, Pat Califia, and of Canada
Customs spokespersons].
P93 (v12n8)(Dec. 7, 1994): 19 (56cm.)
Little Sister's: waiting for the verdict [in Vancouver court challenge of Canada Customs].
P94 (v13n1)(Jan. 25, 1995): 23 (23cm.)
Pornography safe [two Queen's University professors find; study of effects on 91
Canada Customs officers who censor material; professors admitted confusion
that no harmful effects shown, since material viewed considered so dangerous to
Canadians].
P98 (v13n5)(July 26, 1995): 22 (12cm.)
Victory for Little Sisters [Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium wins in B.C. Supreme
Court against Canada Customs; details and background].
P102 (v14n1)(Jan. 31, 1996): 19 (48cm.)
Cash for Little Sister's [bookstore; B.C. judge orders that bookstore be paid $170,000 in
court costs, orders Canada Customs to immediately stop detaining bookstore's
shipments; etc.].
P104 (v14n3)(April 24, 1996)[dated April 26 on contents page]: 22 (26cm.)
Little Sister's saga unfolds [very brief newsnote about the ongoing Little Sister's --
Canada Customs issue].
P105 (v14n4)(June 5, 1996): 22 (7cm.)
Queer crafts [shipment from United States to Little Sister's misdirected to a sewing store,
Quilted Path; Canada Customs spokesperson said was not their fault].
P108 (v14n7)(Oct. 23, 1996): 22 (17cm.)
Fighting the state [in which the author reports on a meeting with Janine Fuller, manager
of Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium, Vancouver, and in which information
on the struggle against Canada Customs, including the BC Supreme Court case,
is presented]. By Gens Hellquist.
P111 (v15n2)(March 12, 1997): 6-7 (67cm.)
Harassment continues [Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium, Vancouver, will be
back to court March 23 to fight for dismantling system of censorship of incoming
books and magazine, etc.].
P119 (v16n2)(March 18, 1998): 23 (20cm.)
Little Sister's battles on ["Customs has continued...barring, holding and destroying
books and magazines destined for the gay/lesbian markets"; bookstore continues
court fight].
P120 (v16n3)(April 29, 1998): 27 (20cm.)
; user might also examine the
bookstore's display advertisement on same page.
Customs continues harassment [concerning seizures of shipments destined to Glad
Day Bookshop, Toronto; reference also to the Little Sister's Book and Art
Emporium court case, which is expected to take a considerable time].
P121 (v16n4)(June 10, 1998): 25 (14cm.)
Round two loss [for Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium against Canada Customs'
power to seize imports; some details of arguments and ruling by BC Court of
Appeal].
P122 (v16n5)(July 29, 1998): 24 (29cm.)
Back in court [newsnote that Supreme Court of Canada grants leave for Little Sister's
bookstore to appeal judgment of their last appeal; "will be appealing the part of
the judgment that...hadn't proven that the Customs Act infringes on its rights"].
P127 (v17n2)(March 10, 1999): 24 (12cm.)
Back in court [Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium will be back in Supreme Court
of Canada on March 16 in ongoing censorship battle with Canada Customs;
brief history of case; information regarding some intervenors; etc.].
P135 (v18n2)(March 8, 2000): 23 (46cm.)
Supreme Court decision pending [in case of Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
against Canada Customs interference; 14-year battle began in 1986; decision
not expected for months; some brief details of arguments and some brief
background].
P136 (v18n3)(April 19, 2000): 27 (34cm.)
More seizures [by Canada Customs; concerning Stonewall Bookstore, Ottawa,
owned by former Saskatoon resident, David Rimmer; details, including titles
of books held].
P139 (v18n6)(Sept. 13, 2000): 25 (19cm.)
Little Sister's wins [Supreme Court of Canada ruled December 15, 2000 in favor of
Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium, Vancouver; Canada Customs conducted
fifteen-year harassment campaign against the bookstore; detailed report].
P142 (v19n1)(Jan. 31, 2001): 24-25 (75cm.)
Customs strikes again [experience of Saskatoon's Out of the Closet boutique at
Gay and Lesbian Health Services; order for XY Survival Guide from
American publisher seized by Canada Customs; one book had cover slashed;
other details].
P143 (v19n2)(March 14, 2001): 21 (30cm.)
Seizure fits continue [by Canada Customs against Little Sister's Book and Art
Emporium; now Canada Customs banning additional types of material;
reference also to Glad Day bookstore in Toronto].
P143 (v19n2)(March 14, 2001): 26 (19cm.)
Leave our smut alone! [despite Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium having won
previous cases, Canada Customs continues "seizing queer materials with
impunity"; shortcomings in changed legislation; bookstore is tackling censors
once again; details].
P151 (v20n2)9March 13, 2002): 25-26 (20cm.)
Canuck Customs strikes again [Cherry, by Charlotte Cooper; shipment destined to
Bleeding Rose bookstore in Victoria, B.C. seized and banned as obscene].
P156 (v20n7)(Oct. 23, 2002): 21 (12cm.)
Off to court again [Little Sister's versus Canada Customs; this time Customs
confiscated two SM comic books; trial expected to begin in June; etc.].
P159 (v21n2)(March 5, 2003): 27 (28cm.)
Little Sister's and the giant -- again [report on another chapter in the ongoing
fight between the bookstore, Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium, and
the civil servants of Canada Customs, with some background to the
present situation].
P160 (v21n3)(April 16, 2003): 26 (28cm.)
Feds to pay both sides [BC judge rules that federal government must pay legal
fees of Little Sister's in fight against Canada Customs censorship;
"Judge Elizabeth Bennett stated...that there is evidence of hundreds if
not thousands of titles that Customs is detaining and that, of these, better
than 70% are gay-themed. In her mind this was a clear case of targeted
discrimination which goes well beyond just Little Sister's bookstore; the
entire gay community is under attack"; "Customs must now prove that
it has changed its ways and is not targeting the gay community"; other
details].
P170 (v22n5)(July 21, 2004): 27 (25cm.)