“Transvestism Is A Sin. Homosexuality Is A Sin.” Ryerson Student Alleges He Was “Fired” From Volunteer School Newspaper For Catholic Views

[Charlemagne]

"Transvestism Is A Sin. Homosexuality Is A Sin." Ryerson Student Alleges He Was "Fired" From Volunteer School Newspaper For Catholic Views - 6ixBuzz

Jonathan Bradley, a fourth-year journalism student at Ryerson University, alleges he was “fired” from his school’s volunteer newspaper for sharing his Catholic views. Bradley identifies as a strict Roman Catholic. He believes being gay or transgender is a “sin” and has been vocal about his views...

6ix.buzz

 

[contact]

more details in this article

Ryerson student journalist claims he was fired from campus newspaper over his Catholic views (msn.com)

 

[y2kmark]

"Transvestism Is A Sin. Homosexuality Is A Sin." Ryerson Student Alleges He Was "Fired" From Volunteer School Newspaper For Catholic Views - 6ixBuzz

Jonathan Bradley, a fourth-year journalism student at Ryerson University, alleges he was “fired” from his school’s volunteer newspaper for sharing his Catholic views. Bradley identifies as a strict Roman Catholic. He believes being gay or transgender is a “sin” and has been vocal about his views...

6ix.buzz

Gee, the guy sounds so journalistic. He could be a good fit for The Faux News network, or the most poorly named organization on the radio, the "excellence in broadcasting network" - they have an opening...

 

[Valcazar]

It is a volunteer newspaper and the other people didn't want him there.
So what?

I get he is using this to get publicity for himself and work the "cancel culture" grievance market to make some free money, but why pay attention to this person?

 

[Dutch Oven]

It is a volunteer newspaper and the other people didn't want him there.
So what?

I get he is using this to get publicity for himself and work the "cancel culture" grievance market to make some free money, but why pay attention to this person?

Ryerson campus newspapers are subject to the Ryerson code of conduct. https://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf

The Ryerson code states that "student(s) enjoy(s) within the University all rights and freedoms recognized by law." That would certainly include freedom of religion as well as freedom of speech in relation to religious views.

The code also addresses intimidation and harassment based on Human Rights Code grounds, as well as broader grounds.

Seems like the newspaper needs a little refresher in their student code obligations, and failing that, they may need to lose their charter.

 

[richaceg]

It is a volunteer newspaper and the other people didn't want him there.
So what?

I get he is using this to get publicity for himself and work the "cancel culture" grievance market to make some free money, but why pay attention to this person?

So you're saying cancel culture only applies to cater your views, not for everybody?

 

[y2kmark]

If they have a Monty Python film festival (Cosplay) he's not going to be invited...

 

[mandrill]

Ryerson campus newspapers are subject to the Ryerson code of conduct. https://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf

The Ryerson code states that "student(s) enjoy(s) within the University all rights and freedoms recognized by law." That would certainly include freedom of religion as well as freedom of speech in relation to religious views.

The code also addresses intimidation and harassment based on Human Rights Code grounds, as well as broader grounds.

Seems like the newspaper needs a little refresher in their student code obligations, and failing that, they may need to lose their charter.

I think he's well over the "hate speech" line and the university has nothing to worry about, Dutch. His views are pretty extreme for the Catholic church and they're in conflict with core Canadian values. This isn't the USA where you can refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings. It's Canada. If he were an extreme Muslim calling for Jihad, his religious views would get tossed aside pretty quickly.

Zundel and Keegstra also argued their free speech was being taken away when they were sentenced to a few years in jail.

 

[Valcazar]

Ryerson campus newspapers are subject to the Ryerson code of conduct. https://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf

The Ryerson code states that "student(s) enjoy(s) within the University all rights and freedoms recognized by law." That would certainly include freedom of religion as well as freedom of speech in relation to religious views.

The code also addresses intimidation and harassment based on Human Rights Code grounds, as well as broader grounds.

Seems like the newspaper needs a little refresher in their student code obligations, and failing that, they may need to lose their charter.

And they seem to be fine letting the commission take a look.
But "you owe me $20,000 for "firing" me from a job that was on a volunteer basis" looks like he is just fishing for press from the Right Wing Grievance Industry.
Is there a clause that every student gets to be a reporter for the paper?
That every student gets an opinion column?
It's an all-volunteer paper. He wasn't hired. He had no employment protections and it isn't a human rights violation to not invite him to go drinking.

It's hard to see this going anywhere other than as a media blitz to set up this kid's future.

So you're saying cancel culture only applies to cater your views, not for everybody?

I am not even sure what you are trying to say, but if you think "not getting to write for the student paper for free" is being canceled I can't help you.

I think he's well over the "hate speech" line and the university has nothing to worry about, Dutch. His views are pretty extreme for the Catholic church and they're in conflict with core Canadian values. This isn't the USA where you can refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings. It's Canada. If he were an extreme Muslim calling for Jihad, his religious views would get tossed aside pretty quickly.

Zundel and Keegstra also argued their free speech was being taken away when they were sentenced to a few years in jail.

What exactly were the damages this kid suffered? He was no longer allowed to write columns for the paper - which was a volunteer position. (It's not even clear if he was actually banned from still volunteering to help at the paper.)
He was no longer invited to drinks with the other people working at the paper.

He is supposed to get a $20,000 settlement because of that?

Fuck, if I am allowed to sue people for not inviting me for drinks I'm gonna make a lot of money.

Maybe his case isn't as stupid as it sounds in this article - we haven't seen the filing or the details. It could just be really shitty reporting here making him look ludicrous but the reality is much more nuanced.
From just this news report though? It's pretty hard to care.

 

[mandrill]

And they seem to be fine letting the commission take a look.
But "you owe me $20,000 for "firing" me from a job that was on a volunteer basis" looks like he is just fishing for press from the Right Wing Grievance Industry.
Is there a clause that every student gets to be a reporter for the paper?
That every student gets an opinion column?
It's an all-volunteer paper. He wasn't hired. He had no employment protections and it isn't a human rights violation to not invite him to go drinking.

It's hard to see this going anywhere other than as a media blitz to set up this kid's future.
I am not even sure what you are trying to say, but if you think "not getting to write for the student paper for free" is being canceled I can't help you.
What exactly were the damages this kid suffered? He was no longer allowed to write columns for the paper - which was a volunteer position. (It's not even clear if he was actually banned from still volunteering to help at the paper.)
He was no longer invited to drinks with the other people working at the paper.

He is supposed to get a $20,000 settlement because of that?

Fuck, if I am allowed to sue people for not inviting me for drinks I'm gonna make a lot of money.

Maybe his case isn't as stupid as it sounds in this article - we haven't seen the filing or the details. It could just be really shitty reporting here making him look ludicrous but the reality is much more nuanced.
From just this news report though? It's pretty hard to care.

Well, it's the OHRT, not a court. The Tribunal is informal and cheap. The lawyer could be a new call to the Bar, doing it for experience. And the Tribunal has a rep of being packed with 5th rater political appointees - most probably still OLP, not Tory.

I'm guessing that the complaint goes nowhere and there's a generic "It's great that you're Catholic, but you were scaring the nice gay and TS people on campus and that's a no-no" ruling. There's also the issue that he didn't actually lose a job. He lost a volunteer gig writing op eds and he has no contractual right to do that at that newspaper and seize it as his podium.

As I said to Dutch, the "gay wedding cake case" would be likely decided totally opposite in Canada where the courts / tribunals will prefer social categories like gay over adherence to a creed. The US is a religious place. Canada is irreligious and obsessively PC and socially conscious.

 

[Valcazar]

Well, it's the OHRT, not a court. The Tribunal is informal and cheap. The lawyer could be a new call to the Bar, doing it for experience. And the Tribunal has a rep of being packed with 5th rater political appointees - most probably still OLP, not Tory.

I'm guessing that the complaint goes nowhere and there's a generic "It's great that you're Catholic, but you were scaring the nice gay and TS people on campus and that's a no-no" ruling. There's also the issue that he didn't actually lose a job. He lost a volunteer gig writing op eds and he has no contractual right to do that at that newspaper and seize it as his podium.

As I said to Dutch, the "gay wedding cake case" would be likely decided totally opposite in Canada where the courts / tribunals will prefer social categories like gay over adherence to a creed. The US is a religious place. Canada is irreligious and obsessively PC and socially conscious.

Exactly. I view it pretty much the same way. This seems like a giant nothingburger specifically made because claiming to be a victim a good way to make money in the right wing media ecosystem.
Kid needs to make a name for himself.

 

[HungSowel]

Ryerson is not a real university and the university newspaper is not a real newspaper, this is fake news.

 

[Dutch Oven]

I think he's well over the "hate speech" line and the university has nothing to worry about, Dutch. His views are pretty extreme for the Catholic church and they're in conflict with core Canadian values. This isn't the USA where you can refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings. It's Canada. If he were an extreme Muslim calling for Jihad, his religious views would get tossed aside pretty quickly.

Zundel and Keegstra also argued their free speech was being taken away when they were sentenced to a few years in jail.

Acts of homosexuality (as opposed to an inclination towards homosexuality) are considered sins in the Catholic faith. Core dogma, not some outlier view.

We have freedom of religion to prevent authoritarians from punishing people (with so-called hate speech laws) for their views on what is sinful according to their religion. So no, properly interpreted, expressing the view of your faith as to what is sinful is not punishable hate speech under Canadian law.

Neither Zundel nor Keegstra raised freedom of religion as their defence.

 

[Valcazar]

Acts of homosexuality (as opposed to an inclination towards homosexuality) are considered sins in the Catholic faith. Core dogma, not some outlier view.

We have freedom of religion to prevent authoritarians from punishing people (with so-called hate speech laws) for their views on what is sinful according to their religion. So no, properly interpreted, expressing the view of your faith as to what is sinful is not punishable hate speech under Canadian law.

Which is why like I say, there is a need to look at what the actual complaint is.
Given that the kid comes across as trying to get money by way of the grievance industry, I'm suspicious that his presentation of the facts is remotely true.
But we don't know right now.
But even if it is, it seems unlikely he has a case. "We don't want to go for drinks with you" and "we aren't publishing your stories anymore" are not human rights violations.