Christian activist Bill Whatcott, 51, of Leduc, Alberta, surrendered himself to the Calgary policy on June 22, following the Toronto Police Service issuing a Canada-wide arrest warrant for charges related to hate-crime complaints.
In 2016, Whatcott is alleged to have distributed “anti-gay” pamphlets at the Toronto Pride Parade while he and several colleagues were dressed as green zombies to infiltrate the event. Whatcott registered in the 2016 Pride parade under the pseudonym Robert Clinton on behalf of the Gay Zombies Cannabis Consumers Association. The pamphlets warned of the spiritual and physical dangers of homosexual sodomy. The two-page pamphlet featured graphic images of sexually transmitted diseases and a corpse described as an AIDS fatality, alongside a picture of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It condemned the homosexual activism of Trudeau and then-Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne.
“Canada has embarked on a destructive journey toward sexual anarchy and homosexual inspired oppression,” the pamphlet declared. “The clear evidence contained in this package shows Canada’s new sexual ethic is contrary to natural law and no good will come of it.” Lawyer Douglas Elliott, said, “We are going to go after everyone who helped him. Every person, every church, every non-profit organization, everyone who helped this wicked man promote his hatred is going to be held accountable.” Former Liberal MPP, George Smitherman, an open homosexual, was one of two plaintiffs. The suit alleged there were 500,000 estimated victims of Whatcott’s actions, including homosexuals and Liberals.
Charles Lugosi, Whatcott’s lawyer, argued the lawsuit was an attack on Charter freedoms of speech, thought, expression, religion, and association. Justice Paul Perell ruled in March 2017 that Elliott could not claim defamation of an entire group, such as the Pride Parade participants or the “LGTBTQ2SI Community,” or Liberals, but only of individuals. The civil suit seeking more than $104 million in damages was subsequently dismissed. The case is being appealed by both sides. Whatcott is contesting a part of the decision that requires him to name his co-conspirators.
Whatcott still faces criminal charges of “wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group, namely the gay community,” under Section 391 of Canada’s Criminal Code.
Before handing himself in, Whatcott wrote on an online forum, that his crime was “bringing the Gospel and the truth about homosexuality to Toronto’s homosexual pride parade in 2016.”
The newly formed Canada Anti-Hate Network “welcomed” the hate charges against Whatcott. CAN’s chair Bernie Farber issued a statement saying Whatcott “has been a leading figure in the dissemination of homophobic hate propaganda in Canada for years.”
Art Pawlowski, founder of Street Church and a friend of Whatcott, told LifeSiteNews, that the prosecution signaled that “if you voice your politically incorrect views, you will be attacked by the forces of the government.” Pawlowski organized a rally at Calgary police headquarters on June 22 to protest Whatcott’s arrest.
Whatcott said that “if you knock off a liquor store with a knife, it’s highly unlikely they’d put out a Canada-wide (warrant),” yet the Toronto police sent officers to Alberta to pick him up for distributing pamphlets two years ago. “One way I look at it is, for them to go this insane, that was obviously a really good flyer,” said Whatcott.