VANCOUVER, BC: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers funded by the Justice Centre are representing Kari Simpson and her organization, Culture Guard, in response to a series of human rights complaints filed with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal.
Culture Guard is a Canadian advocacy organization that engages in public education and commentary on cultural, social, and public policy issues, including freedom of expression, parental rights, and the impact of government and institutional policies on Canadian society. Kari Simpson is the founder and director of Culture Guard and has been a long-time advocate on these issues.
The complaints, brought by self-described transgender activist Jessica Simpson (formerly known as Jonathan Yaniv) (no relation to Kari Simpson), arise from online publications and commentary made by Kari Simpson and Culture Guard.
In total, at least 18 complaints have been filed so far, many advancing overlapping allegations based on gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, and, in the past few complaints, claims to the “MMIWG2SLGBTQQIPPSAA+” identity. They are largely divided between filings against Culture Guard and separate complaints against Kari Simpson personally, each advancing similar allegations.
Across the complaints, a consistent theme emerges: the complainant alleges that public commentary questioning gender identity claims, using biological language, or referring to the complainant by male pronouns or a prior name constitutes discrimination. Several complaints also characterize such speech as “existential denialism” and claim it causes psychological harm and reputational damage.
Jessica Simpson has previously been described by courts as a “prolific litigant” and has been involved in numerous unsuccessful human rights and civil proceedings, including cases dismissed for improper purposes. According to multiple news publications, including the Western Standard, Simpson has also been involved in criminal proceedings, including a conviction related to possession of a prohibited weapon and a separate assault conviction arising from an incident involving a journalist.
Kari Simpson said, “As a Canadian, I support the right to personal expression. But freedom of expression protects the right to express oneself, including dressing up like the opposite sex—it does not extend to compelling others to adopt or affirm that expression.”
She added, “My rights, including freedom of expression, security of the person, and the ability to speak truthfully, must not be subordinated or cancelled due to another individual’s identity claims.”
Constitutional lawyer Marty Moore said, “There is no Charter right to be free from criticism, or to be affirmed or approved in one’s claimed identity.”
“To the extent that human rights tribunals have indicated otherwise, a clear precedent needs to be set, upholding the fundamental freedoms of thought, opinion, belief, and expression against such an imagined right,” he added.
This case highlights growing tension between human rights legislation and the Charter freedom of expression, which protects the right of Canadians to discuss, debate, and even criticize ideas on controversial social issues. Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre will defend Kari Simpson’s right to participate in public discourse without being penalized for expressing her views.
The Justice Centre is a registered charity that relies on the support of donors to fund cases that advance Canadians’ fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support this and similar cases here.
The individual complaints can be viewed below:
Simpson Complaint #1 BCHRT CS-018398
Simpson Complaint #2 BCHRT CS-018416
Simpson Complaint #3 BCHRT CS-018470
Simpson Complaint #4 BCHRT CS-018485
Simpson Complaint #5 BCHRT CS-018489
Simpson Complaint #6 BCHRT CS-018629
Simpson Complaint #7 BCHRT CS-018637
Simpson Complaint #8 BCHRT CS-018669
CC and Simpson Complaint #9 CS-018730
CC Complaint #1 BCHRT CS-018389
CC Complaint #2 BCHRT CS-018396
CC Complaint #3 BCHRT CS-018409
CC Complaint #4 BCHRT CS-018413
CC Complaint #5 BCHRT CS 018497
CC Complaint #6 CS-018635
CC Complaint #7 CS-018720
CC Complaint #8 BCHRT CS-018722
For media inquiries, please contact media@jccf.ca.
