{"id":10371,"date":"2025-02-03T21:19:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T02:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/?p=10371"},"modified":"2025-02-03T21:20:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T02:20:52","slug":"a-small-victory-for-freedom-of-belief-rape-survivor-reaches-settlement-with-tmu-student-union-after-she-was-barred-from-event-over-anti-abortion-activism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/?p=10371","title":{"rendered":"A Small Victory for Freedom of Belief; Rape survivor reaches settlement with TMU student union after she was barred from event over anti-abortion activism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"mailto:?Subject=I%20saw%20this%20on%20National%20Post&amp;Body=https%3A\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/toronto\/anti-abortion-activist-tmu-student-union-reach-settlement\"><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url= https%3A\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/toronto\/anti-abortion-activist-tmu-student-union-reach-settlement&amp;text=Rape%20survivor%20reaches%20settlement%20with%20TMU%20student%20union%20after%20she%20was%20barred%20from%20event%20over%20anti-abortion%20activism&amp;via=nationalpost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url= https%3A\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/toronto\/anti-abortion-activist-tmu-student-union-reach-settlement\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"articleTitle\">Rape survivor reaches settlement with TMU student union after she was barred from event over anti-abortion activism<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>In August 2017, the student filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, arguing she was a victim of discrimination based on her religious beliefs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Author of the article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/author\/ablaffpostmedia-com\/\">Ari David Blaff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Published Jan 29, 2025 &nbsp;\u2022&nbsp; Last updated 5&nbsp;days ago &nbsp;\u2022&nbsp; 5 minute read<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/toronto\/anti-abortion-activist-tmu-student-union-reach-settlement#comments-area\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/toronto\/anti-abortion-activist-tmu-student-union-reach-settlement#comments-area\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>124 Comments<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Battista.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=JfB36vG2K9UkPUitmPrqDA\" alt=\"Talia Battista\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Talia Battista says she was discriminated against because of her religious beliefs. Photo by Lidor Levy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Article content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A rape victim who was turned away from an event for sexual assault&nbsp;survivors&nbsp;at Toronto Metropolitan University&nbsp;due to her anti-abortion activism has reached settlements with the school and its student union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c(I) want to thank all of the individuals who have supported me and my family throughout the years, through your encouragement, financial support, and your prayers,\u201d the student, Talia Battista, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the settlement, the Toronto Metropolitan Students\u2019 Union will repeal a controversial guideline \u2014 Operational Policy #28 \u2014 that excluded anti-abortion students from accessing campus resources, according to a press release shared exclusively with National Post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 2017, Talia Battista, a second year business student at then-Ryerson University, tried to attend a \u201cSelf-Healing Through Yoga\u201d event on campus for sexual assault survivors. Before she moved to Toronto for university, while she was attending high school in Antigua, Battista says she was in an abusive relationship when her partner allegedly raped her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When she approached the then-Ryerson Students\u2019 Union (RSU) to inquire about the program, she was barred from attending because of her work with Toronto Against Abortion (TAA), a pro-life group on campus. In August 2017, Battista filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, arguing she was a victim of discrimination based on her religious beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The policy says, \u201cNo TMSU resources, space, recognition or funding will be allocated to enhance groups\/individuals whose primary\/sole purpose is anti-choice activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSuch activities are defined as any campaigns, actions, distribution, solicitation, or lobbying efforts that seek to limit an individual\u2019s right to choose what they can or cannot do with their own body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The guideline will now be replaced with \u201ca new \u2018Issues Policy\u2019 that reflects TMSU\u2019s strong commitment to remaining a pro-choice students\u2019 union,\u201d according to the press release shared by Battista.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the agreements, the details of the settlements must remain confidential, the press release notes, but some information, such as the policy change, can be made public. The student union also pledged to conduct \u201chuman rights training for all TMSU employees, staff, and board members,\u201d the press release says, including instruction on \u201cdiscrimination on the basis of creed and the interface between creed and an individual\u2019s pro-life beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The student union did not respond to the Post\u2019s requests for comment before publication. The university declined to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The press release noted that the student union denied discriminating against Battista.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TMSU denies that it discriminated against Ms. Battista or otherwise violated her human rights. It admits no liability in relation to Ms. Battista\u2019s allegations in the Application, and further specifically and expressly denies such liability,\u201d the press release says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Battista refrained from commenting to the Post, citing the confidentiality of the settlement, except to say that she had filed two separate complaints against the student union and university and that they were \u201cresolved through separate independent settlement agreements,\u201d in December and January, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBoth the student union and the university deny all liability in relation to any allegations against them,\u201d Battista said in an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TAA demonstrated regularly on campus and often drew negative interactions with union leaders, leading to counterprotests, the alleged theft of graphic posters featuring aborted fetuses and even, on one occasion, the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/theeyeopener.com\/2019\/05\/ryerson-student-pleads-guilty-to-one-of-two-charges-of-assault-against-abortion-protester\/\" target=\"_blank\">assault of Battista\u2019s colleague<\/a>.&nbsp;Battista says she was subject to harassment and exclusion from campus events because of her religious beliefs. A few days before the February incident, Battista sought to attend another union-run event and was asked to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, since RSU does have a pro-choice stance, and a lot of the people in this space kind of feel targeted, some people just aren\u2019t comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions in that kind of setting,\u201d Battista recalled a union leader telling her in a closed-door meeting following her expulsion from that event. When asked to clarify which other equity service centres she would be prohibited from accessing, the union leader said the majority of them, apart from a food bank initiative, because her presence \u2014 as a pro-life student \u2014 amounted to \u201can act of continuing \u2026 violence and \u2026 trauma,\u201d according to audio recordings obtained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/news\/canadian-rape-survivor-says-university-discriminated-against-her-because-shes-pro-life\/\">National Review<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adam Sinclair, the president of the university\u2019s TAA chapter, viewed the policy change as a meaningful step towards defending free speech on campus. Sinclair sees the repeal of Operational Policy #28 and TMSU\u2019s commitment to including anti-discrimination training focused on creed and religious belief paving the way towards official student group recognition on campus for TAA, a status previously withheld given its anti-abortion stance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>S<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOver these past few years, it has been disheartening to see the school\u2019s student union and other agencies within talking about diversity and inclusion, but to then be hostile to people with different beliefs,\u201d he told the Post in an email. \u201cThe student union agreeing to repeal their policy banning pro-life clubs, I believe, is a huge win and a step in the right direction and aligns with the schools\u2019 tenets of inclusion and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blaise Alleyne, the founder of TAA and a former colleague of Battista\u2019s, was particularly thrilled to see the retraction of Operational Policy #28. The student union\u2019s controversial stance on anti-abortion groups had earlier been <a href=\"https:\/\/thevarsity.ca\/2016\/10\/24\/anti-abortion-group-loses-litigation-against-ryerson-students-union\/\">unsuccessfully challenged<\/a>&nbsp;in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/on\/onsc\/doc\/2016\/2016onsc5519\/2016onsc5519.html?resultId=a3cabca9696544fc8e9809f27eb0cbef&amp;searchId=2025-01-24T12:55:47:516\/1661ecc246574861a2ad6da0e903f6a3\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ontario Superior Court of Justice<\/a>, leading Alleyne to call Battista\u2019s settlement \u201ca big win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy taking a stand and making herself vulnerable, Talia got a pro-choice student union to repeal their policy banning pro-life clubs, and established precedent at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario that there is protection for pro-life beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to the settlement, in January 2023, the tribunal had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/on\/onhrt\/doc\/2023\/2023hrto71\/2023hrto71.html?autocompleteStr=emanuel%20ryers&amp;autocompletePos=1&amp;resultId=e7f7a6df895f4c28b0ab4db6a901dbdb&amp;searchId=8cd44378cd954e51b7a5f90f69f7d203\">ruled<\/a> that Battista\u2019s beliefs derived from \u201ca tenet of her creed founded in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church,\u201d establishing a basis for her case to proceed. Battista\u2019s attorney, Garifalia Milousis, called it \u201can unprecedented victory\u201d at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Battista received legal support from <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomsadvocate.ca\/\">Freedoms Advocate<\/a>, an Alberta-based charity supporting cases related to \u201cissues of fundamental importance to the liberty and constitutional rights of Canadians.\u201d The group was founded by Carol Crosson, who died unexpectedly before the January 2023 verdict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMs. Battista \u2026 waited seven years for resolution of this case and it had a tremendous emotional impact on her life,\u201d Randy Crosson, the current executive director of Freedoms Advocate, told the Post in a statement. \u201cWe are glad there has been a successful outcome that resolves this to her satisfaction. Universities have a moral obligation to uphold principles of fairness and justice within their communities. All students, regardless of creed and religious beliefs, should be treated equally and fairly and given the same access to supports.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rape survivor reaches settlement with TMU student union after she was barred from event over anti-abortion activism In August 2017, the student filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, arguing she was a victim of discrimination based on &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/?p=10371\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10371"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10371"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10373,"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10371\/revisions\/10373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cafe.nfshost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}