Commune members strike back at writer
 Call book on polygamy 'lies'
 
By Dean Pritchard, Staff Reporter
The Winnipeg Sun
 
The author of a book purporting to expose rampant sexual and physical abuse in Bountiful, B.C., drew fire yesterday from angry residents who called the book a tawdry collection of lies. Debbie Palmer, co-author of the book Keep Sweet -- Children of Polygamy, was the featured speaker at a conference at the Fort Garry Hotel examining the sexual exploitation of children in polygamy and the age of sexual consent in Canada.

'OVERSEXED BULL'

"Your book is a bunch of over-sexed bulls---," 52-year-old Joyce Blackmore told Palmer following the conclusion of the half-day conference.

Palmer married Blackmore's father, Ray Blackmore, when Palmer was 15 and her new husband was 55. She was his sixth wife.

Palmer said she was "assigned" to marry Blackmore by community elders. Blackmore accused Palmer of "pursuing" her father, adding she was horrified to read details of Palmer's wedding night with her father.

"We grew up together, and I don't remember anything in your book," said Blackmore, who left Bountiful at 17 and lives in Idaho.

"It did not happen. There was no abuse. There was discipline."

Nola Oler, a current resident of the community, confronted Palmer, her half-sister, demanding names of community residents who have been abused.

"You are painting us all with the same brush," said Oler, 30.

Palmer said she and her children fled Bountiful in the late 1980s after several of the children complained of abuse at the hands of male elders.

She wasn't expecting a warm reception from her former "sister wives" and family members, said Palmer.

"I really appreciate being able to talk to my sisters, even if they are really angry with me," she said. "I love my family but I guess sometimes they wouldn't really believe it by the approach I have taken."

The morning wrapped up with a panel discussion on the age of consent in Canada. Panelists included Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh, human rights lawyer David Matas, Conservative MP Vic Toews, NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis and Liberal MP Anita Neville.

Bill C-2, now before Parliament, would keep the age of consent at 14 but expand the circumstances under which an adult could be found guilty of sexually exploiting a youth.

Of five panelists, only Neville said the age of consent should not be raised to 16. Neville argued raising the age of consent would criminalize sexual activity between youths under 16.

Matas said the new law would allow for varying interpretations of exploitation.

"You need a law that works well and is easy to communicate," Matas said. "Age is simple ... Exploitation is not so simple."
 
canoe.ca
Originally published February 19, 2005
 
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