CSU speaks out against hate crimes on sexual orientation

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - The Concordia Student Union wants to stress the importance of keeping an open mind towards other students across Canada following several victimizing event.

"In this day and age, discrimination against gender, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs is a hate crime and should not be tolerated not only on campus but at large," said CSU president Heather Lucas.

The CSU has decided to go public after a series of events happening on campus were reported to executive members of the Concordia Student Union. "The drop that spilled the glass might I say was the latest reported young suicide linked to bullying over sexuality."

Awareness should be created regarding hate crimes that are on the rise at an alarming pace in Canada. Statistics Canada noted in their Police-reported hate crime in Canada (2008) where hate crimes based on sexual orientation has doubled since 2007 with almost 200 reported cases. Among other motivations, race, ethnicity, and religion are also common source of hate driven incentives, many of them being violent and derogatory.

Kyle Goforth, a Concordia Student Union councilor spoke out about this issue: "This is the sickening reality gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals still face today in the US, Canada and anywhere. I cannot bring myself to understand how my sexuality has anything to do with my ability to be part of a university student union. These hate crimes hit hard on all gay communities, and show us how we as a North American society still have a long fight to call ourselves free nations"

"Numerous students decide to go about and not report these incidents but this affects them psychologically; we are here to speak up for them today"

Notably, the CSU is organizing peace week on Campus this week where world-renowned scholar and Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel spoke about his victimization experiences as a child in Nazi Germany.

We hope other student unions and society at large supports our fight in connecting this message reaches to the concerned individuals that make the lives of innocent people harder by their offensive remarks.

For further information:

Heather Lucas can be reached at 514.848.7474 ext 8899 [email protected]