Calgary pastor arrested protesting new law limiting anti-drag show demonstrations - He was arrested for being within 200 meters of a gay person.

The bylaw, which spawned Wednesday's protest and Tuesday's prayer circle, was passed late Tuesday evening and was the fulfillment of a threat to crack down on anti-drag protests made by Calgary's mayor two weeks ago.​

By Sheila Gunn Reid | March 15, 2023



Derek Reimer, pastor at Mission 7 Ministries, was hauled away Wednesday afternoon by police near a Calgary public library while participating in a protest against the city's new "Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw" which bans "specified protests" within 100 metres of an entrance of a city-affiliated facility.

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While any exact reason for the arrest is not yet fully clear, one Calgary police officer involved in the incident can be heard telling Reimer he was “currently under arrest for breaching [his] 200m no-go condition.”

The pastor was also issued a trespass notice at Calgary city hall on Tuesday after silently praying in objection to the new law being debated in chambers.

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The bylaw, which spawned Wednesday's protest and Tuesday's prayer circle, was passed late Tuesday evening and was the fulfillment of a threat to crack down on anti-drag protests made by Calgary's mayor two weeks ago.


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Charges under the new bylaw carry a maximum penalty of up to $10,000 or six months in prison.

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Pastor Reimer, whose missionary work focuses on the vulnerable, homeless and addicted in Calgary's downtown core, heckled a drag queen at an all-ages drag show at Calgary's Seton library at the end of February.

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He was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple bylaw violations, mischief and causing a disturbance.


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The pastor spent four days in jail before agreeing to bail conditions that restrict contact with any members of the LGBT community, including pastoral counselling or offering free food as part of Mission 7's outreach help.


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His next bail conditions review will take place on March 29. To donate to offset Pastor Derek Reimer's legal costs, please make a tax-deductible donation to www.SavePastorDerek.com.

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[Marcus Tullius Cicero]

Defending male crossdressers is really an odd hill to die on. Why are they worth protecting under the law?

 

[Just_Somebody]

I'm 99.999% sure that City Councils can't create criminal laws. Otherwise the pussies in Ottawa would have made illegal parking a capital offense during the Convoy protest last year.

But this is clown world.

 

[MarvinTheParanoidAndroid]

Derek Reimer, pastor at Mission 7 Ministries, was hauled away Wednesday afternoon by police near a Calgary public library while participating in a protest against the city's new "Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw" which bans "specified protests" within 100 metres of an entrance of a city-affiliated facility.

Violates A1, take it to the Supreme Court, blow out this law and watch troons seethe.

EDIT: oh it's canada, he has no free speech. What was he expecting?

Here's some advice to any protestors in Canada: stop being Canadian.

 

[jertzog]

So the whole duration of his bail, a fag can just follow him around and he has to flee or risk arrest?

 

[Coldgrip]

I'm not saying he should, but if he decided to go full Deus Vult on the fags, I'd understand.

 

[Koby_Fish]

I'm 99.999% sure that City Councils can't create criminal laws. Otherwise the pussies in Ottawa would have made illegal parking a capital offense during the Convoy protest last year.

But this is clown world.

Our Supreme Court is severely pozzed, but I think even the speds on the SCC should strike that crap down as unconstitutional.

 

[JosephStalin]

Glad to live in a country where my rights are written into the Constitution, not subject to the whim of legislators.

 

[White Devil]

Glad to live in a country where my rights are written into the Constitution, not subject to the whim of legislators.

Tell me how that's been going for you since the Patriot Act.

 

[JosephStalin]

Tell me how that's been going for you since the Patriot Act.

Better than it's going for Canadians.

 

[Troon Meet Noose]

Defending male crossdressers is really an odd hill to die on. Why are they worth protecting under the law?

You know who's running Canada, right?

 

[LaxerBRO]

Defending male crossdressers is really an odd hill to die on. Why are they worth protecting under the law?

I'm 99.999% sure that City Councils can't create criminal laws. Otherwise the pussies in Ottawa would have made illegal parking a capital offense during the Convoy protest last year.

But this is clown world.

You think this is a way to protect the Troons, you are wrong. It's a way to protect themselves from future protests.

Let's say the transit or other city workers protest. Well, the entrance is the parking lot ramp and the protest area is next street over.

Have fun with your picket lines.

 

[notafederalagent]

He needs to form an interfaith alliance with some Muslims and go protest together. Leafs have a Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia. Make the government declare that deviants are more important than Muslims and it might lead to some explosive developments.

 

[spinal gas chamber]

If you’re going to be arrested anyway, okay then. Not sure that much more needs to be said.

 

[White Devil]

Better than it's going for Canadians.

My man, I hate to doom post but we're following them and with smiles on our faces.

 

[Picnic_Boy]

I wish we could trade a couple of states for Alberta.

 

[Testacles Maximus]

bans "specified protests"

I don’t have a dog in this race but a government telling its citizens what they’re allowed to protest seems really icky to me.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

Coming to a state near you.

 

[pikachudidnothingwrong]

Fucking insanity and pure evil. Can't wait for the troons to try this here and all the screeching when they get slapped down by the courts.

 

[Ser Prize]

I don’t have a dog in this race but a government telling its citizens what they’re allowed to protest seems really icky to me.

It's just Rebellion(TM).