Pain in the ass

Canadian anal intercourse laws deemed unconstitutional, still face inequality

Canada is often touted as one of the world’s more advanced countries in regard to sexual equality, but every once in a while we need a reminder we’re still at the ass end of the movement in a lot of ways.

In June 2008, the Canadian government passed a bill that raised the age of consent from 14 to 16, applying to almost all forms of sexual activity, except one.

Today, Pink News published an article detailing the ways Canadian sex laws still maintain a discriminatory stance on anal sex, even though these laws have been deemed unconstitutional in five provinces.

“In Canada, the federal age of consent is 16, for anal intercourse outside of marriage, the age of consent is 18,” the article explains. Anal sex is also criminalized if more than two people are present.

Unequal age of consent has been challenged and deemed unconstitutional in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

While Pink News focuses on this as a gay issue, much like Canadian Blood Services’ discriminatory policies, these laws affect everyone, regardless of sex or gender. Talk about butting up against bad policies.

Michael Lyons is a queer-identified, chaotic neutral writer, activist, misanthrope, sapiosexual, and feline enthusiast. He is a columnist, blogger and regular contributor with Xtra and has contributed to Plenitude Magazine, KAPSULA Magazine, Crew Magazine, Memory Insufficient e-zine, The Ryersonian, Buddies Theatre blog, Toronto Is Awesome blog and Fab Magazine and more.

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