CALGARY, Alberta (LifeSiteNews) — A judge has found a Canadian pastor guilty of “criminal harassment” for protesting “drag queen story hours” targeting children at a public library earlier this year and for breaching his bail conditions, which ban him from protesting at any LGBT-themed event.
“A judge found me guilty today of criminal harassment for expressing my opposition towards drag queen story hour to a library manager set on hosting the event. For posting the video of our interaction on Facebook, and saying we’ll be back (to protest) if the event continues,” said Calgary Christian pastor Derek Reimer in a message sent to LifeSiteNews.
Reimer is the leader of MISSION7, a Christian organization that focuses on outreach to the homeless of Calgary. He told LifeSiteNews that his charges, handed to him from the Alberta Court of Justice by Justice Karen Molle on August 22, stem from incidents from March 25 to April 2.
“This charge is punishable up to two years, and I will be posting the sentencing date soon,” he noted.
While finding Reimer guilty of “criminal harassment,” Molle also acquitted him on charges of causing a disturbance, dismissing two charges alleging that he caused a public disturbance after he used a loudspeaker outside two separate drag story events. Molle ruled that these were not criminal offenses.
Additionally, Reimer was found guilty of four counts of breaching his bail conditions, which ban him from protesting outside “drag queen story time” events in Calgary.
The pastor’s lawyer, Andrew MacKenzie, noted that an appeal of the August 22 ruling is possible. As it stands now, he is out free on bail.
Reimer is still facing a court decision on charges from an incident that occurred on February 25, 2023, in which he was charged with causing a disturbance and mischief for protesting outside another drag event targeting children. He was forcibly removed from a public library after protesting at the event, at which he said, “homosexuality is a sin.”
For this charge, he was also banned from being within 300 meters from any LGBT event.
As reported by LifeSiteNews earlier this year, trespassing charges against Reimer for praying in a municipal building were dismissed.
He has been arrested many times for protesting “drag queen story time” and other LGBT events in his city.
Last April, his van was vandalized with an anti-Christian message as well as a satanic symbol while he was in jail for yet another arrest related to his pro-family activism.
Last year, Calgary passed a new “Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw” that disallows “specified protests” both inside and outside all city-owned and affiliated public buildings.
The bylaw means pastors or concerned parents protesting pro-LGBT events at public buildings will be barred from getting within 100 meters of any such location.
Those who are found guilty of breaking the bylaw, such as Reimer, can face fines of up to $10,000 and one year in jail.