Alvaro Orozco Should Stay: Tell Diane Finley

Anyone who induces, promotes, propagandizes or practices in scandalous form sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex commits the crime of sodomy and shall incur 1 to 3 years' imprisonment.

That's the law in Nicaragua. It's not a relic from the distant past. Article 204 of the Nicaraguan Penal Code was promulgated in September, 1992. It is a barbaric law, and Canada has just found itself in the fortunate position of being able to let the Nicaraguan government know how much contempt we have for state-sanctioned persecution of minorities - and in the same stroke of the same pen we could warmly and formally welcome this brave young man to Canada.

The latest is that Alvaro is hiding out in Toronto. Simon's properly furious about this.

Immigration Minister Diane Finley can be reached at Finley.D@parl.gc.ca.

When I wrote the minister I made the point that her government has had a lot to say lately about building democracy around the world. One might also point out that our soldiers have been dying in Afghanistan in no small part to defend the principle that human rights are universal rights. It would be no sacrifice on Finley's part to do the right thing here, to shame the Nicaraguan government, to give courage and comfort to Nicaragua's gay community, and to grant Orozco his claim.

No sacrifice at all.