It Hasn't Been Easy

Even if I've had some positive experiences since my landlord/tenant matter happened, I don't mean to say it's been easy!  It sure hasn't been--and that's an understatement!  I would've needed to have not just a lawyer at my hearing but one who was knowledgeable about human rights.  It certainly would've helped!  But I didn't know how to find one at the time and also I was on a low income.  [Sometimes the lawyers accept Legal Aid and sometimes not.]  It had been announced in the news in 1998 that clients didn't need to have lawyers to go before the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal; and I had thought that for once I'd try to do something myself.  I had been on social assistance for a time and it seemed like I'd already had help from a lot of places.  But I sought whatever free legal advice was available outside of the hearings. And I did receive some good counsel [at different times] but it was a very complicated case--in spite of the fact that the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal had a simplified system.  [The Ontario Human Rights Commission would've taken a number of years to handle my case.]  I had no human rights advice until some time after my hearing had been held. 

I Was Partially Incorrect

Continuing from the very first blog post, and the notes added on January 8 and January 24, 2013:  The way that my politically-incorrect comments came across was a little more serious than I realized.  Basically what happened was that I called my landlady gay without her permission to do so.--And it also seemed that I was being nosy and/or accusing her for being gay.  But as I've indicated, I wasn't saying what I really meant to say.  There was more to the story--and the law--than what I was able to express adequately at the hearing.  Also, it's possible my landlady wasn't guilty of sexual harassment but that she discriminated against me on the basis of my sexual orientation which was different from hers.  I was straight and she was gay.  And that's not the way we usually hear of discrimination cases going--usually it's straight people discriminating against the minority which are gay.  But the reverse is also possible; and maybe that's why my case has been so complicated!  [Have been discussing this matter with my official sources and we're continuing.--We're not quite done yet.]  Will update my blog further when I have time.--Don't have internet service at home and am limited to use at the libraries.  [I also have to spend time with my official writing which goes out to my sources.] ******  A past prime minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, had made a comment something like, "The government has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."  And I believe it was a valid point.  An argument like this was made at my hearing and if we had stopped there, the case might've been different!  And I really want to emphasize that I don't disagree with this idea.  But my case went a lot further and maybe we'll get to a conclusion yet--as far as discussing the matter goes.  [Have stated I'm not trying to prosecute my landlady any longer.] 

"It Gets Better" Project--2

Here's a link to videos by President Obama and others at the White House for the "It Gets Better" project:
www.whitehouse.gov/itgetsbetter. 

"It Gets Better" Project

In 2010, a gay man in the USA got an idea to begin a project called "It Gets Better" for gay youths dealing with bullying.  Since then, many people have contributed, including videos done by President Obama and the White House.  Our Royal Canadian Mounted Police just released their own video which was created by 20 gay and lesbian officers in the province of British Columbia.  The video is available on YouTube.  I think it's nice these people can help others. 

Another Blog to Follow--II

For people who don't already know of him, Dr. Tony Campolo is a sociologist, university professor, pastor, author, and public speaker.  There are two blog posts I've found in his blog which are of special interest here.  One is, "It Is Time for the American Christian Church to Surrender the Gay Marriage Fight, Apologize and Share Love," by Ian Ebright.  People can see if they agree with these views or not.  The second post is, "What Does Jesus Think of Homosexuality?," by Derek Flood.  The answer might be a surprise! 

Another Blog to Follow--Tony Campolo

Have recently found a new website and blog called "Red Letter Christians," by Dr. Tony Campolo and friends.  They have some very interesting articles!  They're in the process of updating their site and it's not convenient for me to post a link.  But people can look it up for themselves, if they wish!  [The address is http://www.redletterchristians.org/.  --Actually, people may notice the link has gone through.  They only need to click on the address to get the site.  Thank you.]

New Blog

Have started a brand new blog, to help shorten the points in this blog! Waterlily Story III was just posted today! Hope that some people may benefit from it.