So, according to the bright lights on the Calgary Herald's editorial board, Pride needs to become about including everyone, including those who have a track record of oppressing the LGBT community.
Their silence on Bill C-16 was disappointing, only speaking on the matter as the bill passed to the Senate. Strangely, they were completely silent while Conservative Senators like Don Plett, among others, spouted utter nonsense about the bill and its implications.
Presenting LGBTory (a group whose very name implicitly erases Transgender from its scope) really doesn't do a great deal to convince Canadians that conservative parties are inclusive isn't overly persuasive. Make no mistake - I am fully aware that there are LGBT Canadians who honestly do support conservative parties. I sincerely hope that those people are under no illusions about the degree to which those parties actually support the legitimate civil rights.
As if that isn't enough, shortly after forming the UCP, Kenney's entire caucus voted against Bill 24, which clarified the legislation around GSAs to explicitly protect student privacy, and at their founding convention passed resolutions that were blatantly homophobic. Kenney tried to walk it back a bit by claiming that as leader, he had final say on what the policy would be going into the next election. On top of that, Mr. Kenney has been frustratingly unwilling to speak plainly on the subject(s) at hand - preferring to dodge with statements like "we won't legislate on divisive social issues" (which is hardly reassuring for an LGBT community that remembers all too well the decade long fight that Delwin Vriend took to the SCC, only to have an equally reluctant Klein shelve the court's ruling.
Maybe a "dyed-in-the-wool" conservative like Mr. Harrison Fleming can overlook Mr. Kenney's history, as well as the behaviour of MLAs under his direction, or the party membership's votes on matters. Others look at this record, and wonder "in what universe could you imagine a party led by Jason Kenney being an ally of LGBT people?".
At its roots, Pride is about inclusion. Its roots are in overturning the oppression that LGBT people lived under in both Canada and the United States through much of the 20th century and before that. The core of it is in fact protesting oppression - oppression which still continues today, even with legal recognition of our existence. Mr. Fleming might wish to acquaint himself with the difficulties faced by Transgender Albertans who are seeking work in this province, or for that matter the very social conditions which have made GSAs desperately needed in our schools. The struggle for inclusion is far from over, no matter what legislative changes have been made.
We should not mistake excluding a group with a suspect record from Pride with oppression itself. Organizers of Pride parades in both Calgary and Edmonton are clear about marching groups being able to show themselves as active allies of the LGBT community. A group that has so clearly not been an ally has no right to march in the parade. It is not oppressive to be intolerant of another's intolerance.
As others have correctly pointed out, the UCP and its members are invited to attend, just not to march in the parade itself.
Harrison Fleming, Alberta co-ordinator of LGBTory, an LGBTQ conservative organization, calls organizers’ position short-sighted and characterizes their decision to deny the party’s participation as a political statement, which it is.
“It limits the message of inclusion that we ought to be telling the next generation — all these young kids coming up right now,” says Fleming.Let's take this to task, since the UCP (and other "big-C" conservatives) seems hell-bent on making it out that it is they who are the oppressed party here. I find it interesting that the Herald trots out LGBTory as if this is supposed to convince us that Canada's conservative parties "really are inclusive". Except, LGBTory has been shockingly unwilling to engage with LGBT Canadians who are skeptical of their motives - often blocking them on social media for questioning them.
Their silence on Bill C-16 was disappointing, only speaking on the matter as the bill passed to the Senate. Strangely, they were completely silent while Conservative Senators like Don Plett, among others, spouted utter nonsense about the bill and its implications.
Presenting LGBTory (a group whose very name implicitly erases Transgender from its scope) really doesn't do a great deal to convince Canadians that conservative parties are inclusive isn't overly persuasive. Make no mistake - I am fully aware that there are LGBT Canadians who honestly do support conservative parties. I sincerely hope that those people are under no illusions about the degree to which those parties actually support the legitimate civil rights.
What tremendous wisdom Fleming possesses. Calgarians are stronger when we stand together. The organizers of the pride parade, while clearly well intentioned, would do well to heed his message. Let’s have fewer fences and more conversations, more embracing of hands.Perhaps Mr. Fleming is quietly forgetting how UCP Leader Jason Kenney voted against LGBTQ rights at every turn while he was a parliamentarian.
As if that isn't enough, shortly after forming the UCP, Kenney's entire caucus voted against Bill 24, which clarified the legislation around GSAs to explicitly protect student privacy, and at their founding convention passed resolutions that were blatantly homophobic. Kenney tried to walk it back a bit by claiming that as leader, he had final say on what the policy would be going into the next election. On top of that, Mr. Kenney has been frustratingly unwilling to speak plainly on the subject(s) at hand - preferring to dodge with statements like "we won't legislate on divisive social issues" (which is hardly reassuring for an LGBT community that remembers all too well the decade long fight that Delwin Vriend took to the SCC, only to have an equally reluctant Klein shelve the court's ruling.
Maybe a "dyed-in-the-wool" conservative like Mr. Harrison Fleming can overlook Mr. Kenney's history, as well as the behaviour of MLAs under his direction, or the party membership's votes on matters. Others look at this record, and wonder "in what universe could you imagine a party led by Jason Kenney being an ally of LGBT people?".
At its roots, Pride is about inclusion. Its roots are in overturning the oppression that LGBT people lived under in both Canada and the United States through much of the 20th century and before that. The core of it is in fact protesting oppression - oppression which still continues today, even with legal recognition of our existence. Mr. Fleming might wish to acquaint himself with the difficulties faced by Transgender Albertans who are seeking work in this province, or for that matter the very social conditions which have made GSAs desperately needed in our schools. The struggle for inclusion is far from over, no matter what legislative changes have been made.
We should not mistake excluding a group with a suspect record from Pride with oppression itself. Organizers of Pride parades in both Calgary and Edmonton are clear about marching groups being able to show themselves as active allies of the LGBT community. A group that has so clearly not been an ally has no right to march in the parade. It is not oppressive to be intolerant of another's intolerance.
As others have correctly pointed out, the UCP and its members are invited to attend, just not to march in the parade itself.
1 comment:
The 17th and 18th centuries in Pennsylvania proved Popper's insight. William Penn and the Quakers were determined to allow all religions equal rights and opportunity. However, this meant allowing in the same religious groups that persecuted those - like the Quakers - that were trying to escape such persecution.
As well, at one point, Quakers actually took up arms to protect the indigenous peoples from persecution. How, unfortunately, ironic.
UU
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