SW News: A bill that targets believers and those who support the traditional family was unveiled on Tuesday in Canada’s Ontario. It seeks to allow the Attorney General to set up 100-meter “safety zones” around drag queen shows and LGBTQ events.
The Protecting 2SLGBTQI+Communities Act was proposed by lawmaker Kristyn Wong-Tam of the New Democratic Party and it will penalize anyone who conducts a vigil, prays or protests near drag-LGBTQ events with a fine of up to 25,000 USD. The bill brands such acts as harassment, intimidation and offensive remarks.

The controversial bill also has provisions to create an advisory committee comprising lawmakers and members of the LGBTQ community to come up with recommendations to prevent hate crimes against the community in Ontario, says a press release regarding the new legislation.

Another portion of the bill would create an advisory committee made up of lawmakers and members of the LGBTQ community to offer recommendations for preventing "anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate crimes in Ontario," the press release explained.
In the press release, Wong-Tam is quoted as saying, "Drag artists have faced threats and intimidation all across Ontario over the past year. Businesses and 2SLGBTQI+ community members are being told that they can't be out and proud from Thunder Bay to Hamilton, to Guelph, to Stratford, to Welland, Ottawa, and even Toronto. New Democrats are giving Ford's Conservatives a chance to stop hate — today — by passing my private member's bill."

Speaking to Fox News, Allison Kindle Pejovic, a constitutional lawyer working with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, said the bill penalizes free speech and the right to protest, both of which are enshrined in the Canadian Constitution.

"What is notable about this bill is that it is content-specific, targeting specific speech, while other speech and protests which may be offensive to different communities would be allowed," she added.

"It is deeply concerning that the government could wield subjective terminology such as ‘transphobic, homophobic, or offensive' to target people peacefully and publicly expressing their concerns about sexualization and indiscriminate nudity before children."