Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The "Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium v. Canada" case was a landmark legal battle concerning freedom of expression and LGBTQ+ rights. The Little Sister's Bookstore, a queer bookstore in Vancouver, British Columbia, filed the lawsuit in 1992. The Canadian Customs and Border Service unfairly targeted them for censorship and discrimination by regularly seizing and delaying their imports of LGBTQ+ literature and materials.
This documentary spans 10 years and covers several rounds of litigation. Finally in 2000, the Supreme Court of Canada made a landmark decision and ruled in favour of the Little Sister's Bookstore. The Court found that the actions of the Canadian Customs and Border Service infringed upon the freedom of expression rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The ruling was a significant affirmation of the freedom of expression rights and highlighted the need to safeguard the rights of marginalized communities against government overreach and censorship.
Director: Aerlyn Weissman
Producers: Cari Green, Aerlyn Weissman, Homeboys Productions
The "Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium v. Canada" case was a landmark legal battle concerning freedom of expression and LGBTQ+ rights. The Little Sister's Bookstore, a queer bookstore in Vancouver, British Columbia, filed the lawsuit in 1992. The Canadian Customs and Border Service unfairly targeted them for censorship and discrimination by regularly seizing and delaying their imports of LGBTQ+ literature and materials.
This documentary spans 10 years and covers several rounds of litigation. Finally in 2000, the Supreme Court of Canada made a landmark decision and ruled in favour of the Little Sister's Bookstore. The Court found that the actions of the Canadian Customs and Border Service infringed upon the freedom of expression rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The ruling was a significant affirmation of the freedom of expression rights and highlighted the need to safeguard the rights of marginalized communities against government overreach and censorship.
Director: Aerlyn Weissman
Producers: Cari Green, Aerlyn Weissman, Homeboys Productions
