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-- KD Lang says Harper is intolerant
KD Lang says Harper is intolerant
Intolerant? Because he didnt attend an event he was invited to? I guess if he doesnt show up to the BBQ i invited him to hes intolerant of WASP dudes from the 905 region?
Shes lucky im not the PM or shed have a slander lawsuit on her hands.
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| Prime Minister Stephen Harper has chosen to "support intolerance" by refusing to attend the first World Outgames for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered athletes, singer k.d. lang said Friday. Lang will be the headline performer when the games open Saturday, with the participation of more than 13,000 athletes from around the world. "It's a sad statement that the national leader of one of the most progressive countries in the world chooses to support intolerance rather than all-inclusiveness," she told a news conference at the Olympic Stadium. "It's a very, very important moment in the GBLT [gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgendered] community's history, as well as Canadian history," she said. "It's momentous for Canada." Other leaders to appear Lang said the GBLT (usually referred to as LGBT) community shouldn't take Harper's absence personally. "It's our job to see that as an unfortunate ignorance, rather than as a statement against us," she said. "It's just that he hasn't got there in his heart." Quebec Premier Jean Charest, interim Liberal leader Bill Graham and Bloc Qu�b�cois leader Gilles Duceppe will all make appearances at the games, so Harper's absence is likely to be noticed. But a spokesman for the prime minister said there is nothing political in Harper's decision to skip the Outgames. "The prime minister receives hundred of invitations to attend several events at the same time," Dimitri Soudas told the Canadian Press in a telephone interview. "He simply can't be everywhere at the same time." Soudas said Public Works Minister Michael Fortier will represent the government at the games along with several Conservative MPs, although he didn't specify which ones. UN human rights official to speak Soudas wouldn't respond to Lang's criticisms. "She's not the first celebrity to comment on the activities of the prime minister," he said. According to Louise Roy, CEO of the organizing committee, "The first World Outgames will be the largest LGBT event ever held, encompassing sports, culture and human rights." The guest speaker at the opening dinner will be Louise Arbour, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. "Because of the stigma attached to issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, violence against LGBT persons is frequently unreported, undocumented and goes ultimately unpunished. This shameful silence is the definitive rejection of the fundamental principle of universality of rights. For this reason I am honoured to participate in this vital event," Arbour is quoted as saying on the Outgames website. |
I was just going to say...
Where are the straight olympics??
I think that idea is rediculous. I didn't read the entire article, but I think I got the gist of it. I agree, when have sports been about sexuality? I don't think there has been much discrimination towards sexually in sporting events. Maybe individuals might feel a little more open to the idea being surrounded by their kind, but still.
Good job for Harper for not attending.
ON a lighter note, they already have homosexual, bisexual, lesbian events in the olympics.
Figure skating anybody??
they can do whatever they want i just ask for the following conditions:
1) Dont whine like babies when people dont show up to your event
2) for the love of god, dont make leapfrog one of the sporting events
LOL
I for one am very intolerant of KD Lang. Have you ever heard any of her music? BLAAAAH!
Although I agree that there is absolutely no need for this event to be taking place....however; it would have been a good thing for harper to go to this from a political point of view. Harper has already been accused of not being in favour of gays and attending something like this would have only helped him in his political career......I will be interested to see what event he is attending that day....if any.
So how does the pole vault work?
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| Originally posted by ChemEnhanced Although I agree that there is absolutely no need for this event to be taking place....however; it would have been a good thing for harper to go to this from a political point of view. Harper has already been accused of not being in favour of gays and attending something like this would have only helped him in his political career......I will be interested to see what event he is attending that day....if any. So how does the pole vault work? |
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| Originally posted by Jayx1 Probably because hes too busy running the country into the ground. |
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| Originally posted by Jayx1 Harper is not one to show up at events like this. Hes just not a special interest event kind of guy. Probably because hes too busy actually running the country! |
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| Originally posted by djbruuen well at least you're not a hypocrite. i'm not a supporter of harper, but with all of the discussions you started at voting time about wanting change with the conservatives, if i saw you starting to bash harper and needing to get him out, i couldn't take your opinion seriously. plus i agree, he doesn't need to go to every event to fake his interest in every group. At least he did a good job with the lebanese canadians. |
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| Originally posted by exstasie Everyone knows he's not a big fan on the same-sex issue and KD Lang shouldn't be calling him out on that. If that's his view, then let him be. I'm sure he has more important things to deal with (well lets hope he does.) |
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| Originally posted by 7-4-7 sorry to call you out on that statement, "let him be"????? He is our prime minister, his views are crucial. The fact that he wishes to exist under this impression that homosexuality should exist in the fray....doesn't exist at all...or that they shouldn't get married etc etc... is against the grain/fabric of the majority of Torontonians. |
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| Originally posted by Jayx1 PS: Chretien was a devout catholic yet he never imposed those views on the country just as Harper isnt about to either. |
actually go back and read the actual history.
The Liberals were AGAINST gay marriage as recently as 2003. Yes thats right, they were AGAINST it. Gay marriage became law because of the COURTS and not because the Liberals supported it. What the Liberals did was just let the judgment sit in order to not stir controversy.
So please dont try and tell me that Chretien or Martin supported gay marriage because thats revisionism. Martin only support gay marriage when it was clear that he could use it as a wedge issue against the opposition.
You may not agree with Harper's ideas, (and when it comes to gay marriage, i dont) but you have to admire a man who has principals and sticks to them even if it might cost him some votes.
First off, why the fuck is there olympic style games for gay people? That just makes my brain burn out.
Second, oh the hell with it.
Principles are the only thing a man has...
I have the same mentality as Harper, and how do you think that'll make his supporters and himself feel if he were to attend an event that he doesn't believe should have been executed in the first place?
meh.. this isn't half as bad as Bush refusing to attend NAACP conferencse for 4 years hahah
Reminds me of this scene Revenge of the Nerds.
Lamar had technique.
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| Originally posted by exstasie ON a lighter note, they already have homosexual, bisexual, lesbian events in the olympics. Figure skating anybody?? |
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| Originally posted by Jayx1 actually go back and read the actual history. The Liberals were AGAINST gay marriage as recently as 2003. Yes thats right, they were AGAINST it. Gay marriage became law because of the COURTS and not because the Liberals supported it. What the Liberals did was just let the judgment sit in order to not stir controversy. |
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| Stephen Harper and the media have publicly scoffed at Paul Martin's suggestion that he would try to end western alienation. Modern western alienation centred on Brian Mulroney's acceptance of a Quebec company's bid for a major Defence Department contract over a Winnipeg company's, though the Winnipeg bid was the lower. Western Canada went into a frenzy of hatred for Mulroney's pro-Quebec policies. Several years later Preston Manning formed the Reform party and took away one of the two pillars of Mulroney Toryism. The other pillar went with Lucien Bouchard and the Bloc Qu�b�cois. The result of western alienation was the destruction of the Progressive Conservative party in 1993 and the ultimate new Conservative party under Harper. The West has remained very poor country for the Liberals. Harper has said he cannot see any western seats going Liberal, certainly none in the rural parts of the country. A large part of Harper's present caucus is made up of rural members from the Prairies and British Columbia. Harper has his eye on the Edmonton seat of Anne McLellan, the Calgary seat of Joe Clark and the Wascana seat of Ralph Goodale. But Martin hasn't been scared off by Harper. Already Martin has reacted by luring Winnipeg's gay mayor, Glen Murray, to run in a Winnipeg seat. Glen Murray is a real catch for the Liberals as Murray is walking and living proof of the sincerity of Martin's pledge to deal with cities more fairly than any other prime minister. Still, the gay aspect of Murray will have a rippling effect on all the ridings coast to coast with sizable gay communities. It will also take the pressure off Martin, who is supporting gay marriage reluctantly, and his social conservative caucus, which is in open rebellion on the subject. In his choice of Glen Murray, Martin will be the second liberator of gays in Canada. The first was Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Trudeau legalized homosexuality when he famously said that the state had no place in the bedrooms of the nation. In Canada's most contentious riding of Toronto-Danforth, 22 per cent of the voters are gay. NDP Leader Jack Layton has come out for gay marriage. The sitting Liberal MP, Dennis Mills, cannot and will not support gay marriage. But Mills is a Liberal and gays trust the Liberal party over the New Democratic party at a margin of 2-to-1 says a poll of the riding. Mills can't help but benefit from Martin's popularity with the gay community who are looking to see Glen Murray in a Martin cabinet. That Murray is mayor of Winnipeg is a true testament to his political talents and his courage to be an open gay. Winnipeg is the birthplace of violent western alienation. In 1919, thousands of Winnipegers walked off their jobs in support of One Big Union and a General Strike. By outflanking the NDP in Winnipeg, Paul Martin has seen it all pay off in Toronto-Danforth and Toronto-Rosedale where the gay community lives. It will also pay off in the Vancouver and Halifax gay communities. The argument one frequently hears in Toronto-Danforth is that Layton will win because he's a national leader of a party that supports same-sex marriage, while Mills is merely a backbencher on the wrong side of the issue. The argument goes that the wealthy parts of the riding will vote for Layton because they share his pro-gay views and Mills doesn't. Still, Mills is likely to represent the government in power; the more affluent, gays among them, will press the Liberals to do a good job for them. Mills has certainly been doing that. Mills is the Hill Times MP of the Year. Glen Murray makes it more possible for the Liberals to truly have a free vote on same-sex marriage and not shoot themselves in the foot doing it. Murray's choice may make the Conservatives look like the gay-bashers the media and the Liberals will try to make them out to be. Murray's triumph in Winnipeg will be duly noted in Canada's gay community. They will see that the Liberal party has under Trudeau and Martin proved to be their best friend. They will vote Liberal in gratitude. Glen Murray being onside will enable Martin to ride out any difficulties the Supreme Court ruling will provide on same-sex marriage. Martin has personally stamped the gay file as important to him. It gives him an urban community across western cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina. Murray ended the isolation for the gay community in Winnipeg; he instead made it mainstream and Main Street at one and the same time. Attracting a candidate of Murray's calibre reflects very well on Martin's leadership skills. In one fell swoop Martin has taken a big step towards ending western alienation for the Liberals; with his choice of Murray, Martin is now seen as a gay champion all across Canada. On the other hand, Martin has a big city mayor in his hip pocket. Certainly Martin has pulled off a coup here. |
CBC News Viewpoint | May 17, 2004
This date was well after Martin figured out that the gay question could be used as a wedge issue.
All he did was not challenge the supreme court ruling and suddenly he was a gay rights champion.
Some champion!
Harper is not forcing his beliefs on anyone. Gay marriage is still the law and probably will still be the law after a free vote in the fall. Harper knows this. He just wants the matter to be settled democratically. The only way it could possibly be reversed is with the help of LIBERAL MPs.
To all those who wondered why harper didnt attend the gay games:
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| MONTREAL (CP) - Federal Public Works Minister Michael Fortier was loudly booed at the opening ceremonies of the Outgames. The Conservative senator's speech was interrupted as he attempted to welcome the estimated crowd of 40,000 at the Olympic Stadium Saturday evening. The Conservatives have been criticized by members of the gay community over their plans to reopen the same-sex marriage debate this fall with a free vote in the Commons. Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay, who was greeted with sustained applause, intervened to urge the crowd to listen "with respect" to the representative of the Harper government. The speeches were followed by energetic performances by the likes of Cirque du Soleil, Diane Dufresne, k.d. lang, Martha Wash, Deborah Cox and Jonas. The reaction to Fortier came a day after lang chastized Prime Minister Stephen Harper for not participating in the opening ceremony. Officials in his office said his schedule couldn't accommodate the event. During the ceremony, tennis legend Martina Navratilova and Mark Tewksbury, the Outgames co-president and Olympic swimming champion, read a human rights declaration emanating from a pre-games conference. The sports stars were warmly welcomed as they recalled that many countries still punish homosexuals. They called for the international community to apply pressure on these states and suggested that May 17 be proclaimed International Day against Homophobia. Celine Dion welcomed the crowd by video. the Quebec-born singer said she hoped the games would become "an unforgettable moment in the fight for tolerance." More than 12,000 athletes from around the world are participating in the Outgames, which runs until Aug. 6. The traditional Pride parade will take place Sunday evening. |
^^^ Keep in mind that some of those boos may be for the hypocritical context surrounding Fortier's appointment to his position 
anyway, back to the article...I think K.D. Lang is way off the mark. Harper has no obligation to attend this event. Newsflash...this event isn't even *that* big. To *expect* him to attend is silly, IMHO.
Having said that, people here may seem to be missing the fact that there are benefits to this event doing well...and Harper's attendance would have been nothing but beneficial in that regard.
This is the first year of the OutGames, an offshoot of the Gay Games in the U.S. Harper's attendence would have provided some sort of political legitimacy for the event...a significant advantage over the other games.
Is it the case that he *should* he have been there? of course not. but would it have been politically beneficial for the event, the tourism industry and possibly for Harper himself? I'd say yes...and that an appearance on any day of the games would have been able to have been fit into his schedule.
personally, I think the CPC blew a 'bridge-building' opportunity...but that's their decision.
But mark, obviously if he showed up they would have booed him and i think harper must have known that.
Seriously, the gay movement as a political entity has not scored very many good marks with me in the last while. In fact id say they are starting to become counterproductive.
sure...but sometimes you *know* you'll receive a less-than-cheery reception...but you go anyway, because it's in the greater interests for you to do so.
and whoa there...K.D. Lang is NOT the gay movement. It's one person providing their opinion. Please don't let people like her speak for people like me, lol
shitty reception or not...even if he didn't speak, but merely attended in some form of public manner...I think it would have ultimately been seen by many as an olive branch of sorts.
it's not that Harper has overtly attacked or condemned the gay community...and it IS the case that there are "conservative" gays who don't see the Liberals or NDP as 'their party'. So why not make an attempt at wooing over those voters and repairing your image to the community? (whether or not that image is deserved or not isn't the point)
I still think it's a political opportunity lost for the CPC...and all it takes is one person like K.D. Lang to open her mouth and turn a non-issue into an issue (in some people's minds, not mine).
and thats why i said the gay community in a political sense. A lot of political groups that represent minorities piss me off with actions like this. But i never let it influence my perception of members of that minority group as individuals. You know what i mean?
But yeah because of people like KD Lang, the booers at the Out games and the Ryerson incident, the gay community is having some pretty bad PR issues lately. Its unfortunate.
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