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Health Minister George Smitherman used to be a raver LOL!
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| Jayx1 |
The worst kind of smoker is an ex-smoker. Same goes with clubbers/ravers i guess. This may explain why he's so anal retentive now when he has power.
This proof that even sketchbags at comfort zone can do something with themselves in life LOL
| quote: | Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman made a startling revelation about his less-than-healthy past at an awards ceremony this week.
He admitted that for five years in the early 1990s he was addicted to illegal street drugs following the death of his father.
The 42-year-old minister revealed in a published report that he used the street stimulants as “party drugs.” They weren’t injected, he said, but he admits they were against the law.
Smitherman said he wasn’t sure why he turned to drugs following his father’s passing of a massive stroke at age 60, but admitted being enormously affected by it.
He came clean about his drug use at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Courage to Come Back Awards.
He said that by revealing the dark chapter of his past he was able to reach some closure.
“It’s hard obviously to ... some people prefer to keep their skeletons in their closet,” he said. “As a gay man I came out of the closet a long time ago and it seemed appropriate to use the opportunity (at the awards ceremony) to ... talk about my own personal circumstances. It feels right in my bones.”
His decision to come forward now was inspired by meetings with adolescents combating similar drug problems.
“I came to realize ... that making honest expressions to them was helpful and powerful for them,” he said. “And accordingly I felt that it was the appropriate thing to do.”
Smitherman wasn’t in politics during the years he was addicted to drugs, but said it was his desire to effect change in Ontario that prompted him to give up the habit.
He saw an addiction specialist and a drug specialist psychiatrist and has now been clean for a decade. |
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| Jem_hadar |
| Well, I'm glad hes clean. :) |
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| shanny |
I don't think its really that surprising that one of our minister's used to be a raver, particularly one who is an openly gay representitive.
The gay community has been and continues to be an enormous part of the dance music world...
...what I think is great is that he has the guts to be more open with his life.
It sort of breaths a bit of fresh air into the world of politics that normally gets the type of cookie cutter, "I smoked but I didn't inhale response", that is total garbage.
Good job George. |
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| Skipper |
| Not surprising....the gay, all night, sex and drug fueled parties were a really big part of the gay scene in the early 90's. |
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| fairy godfather |
Used to be?
Bull! |
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| Skipper |
| Several of my older, male, gay friends have commented that the parties now are nothing like they were 15 years ago in the gay scene. |
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| Irishaddict |
Meh, he's a nice guy. My mom because of her job has attended various fundraisers and sat through enough dinners and she always come back with kind sentiments about the guy.
Not like we all don't have what we would consider 'skeletons' in pur closets. If he's turned his around for the better - all the power to him. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Irishaddict
Meh, he's a nice guy. My mom because of her job has attended various fundraisers and sat through enough dinners and she always come back with kind sentiments about the guy.
Not like we all don't have what we would consider 'skeletons' in pur closets. If he's turned his around for the better - all the power to him. |
Tell your mom to tell smitherman to stop screwing with my livelihood :) |
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