Canada's Sex Party Alleges Postal Discrimination

A small Canadian political party that promotes sexual freedom has complained in Federal Court that it was discriminated against by the country's postal service.

The 'Sex Party' is upset that Canada Post refused to distribute a flyer during the 2006 federal election that outlined the group's philosophy, claiming that some its contents were pornographic.

"We are advocating for rights established for any citizen," said Sex Party leader John Ince. He said the pamphlet was intended to help recruit new party members and raise donations.

The party, which advocates liberalization of Canada's prostitution laws among other issues, says its political mailing was the victim of rules aimed at prohibiting use of the postal system to distribute flyers for hard-core pornography.

"That is not what our material is," Ince said.

Canada Post said it was allowed to refuse material that could be seen by children or others who might find it offensive and has denied any political motives.

The Sex Party was founded in 2005 and ran three candidates in that year's provincial election in British Columbia. Ince said the mailing was part of its efforts to become registered as a federal political organization.

Among the political ideas it advocated in the 2005 provincial campaign were increased sex education in schools, more designated public areas for nudists. The party describes itself as the world's first political party "dedicated exclusively to sex-positive issues".

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