|
EDMONTON Wildrose party leader Danielle Smith acknowledgedWednesday that her party has some bridge-building to do withAlberta's gay and lesbian community, which is why she is attendingan Edmonton Pride Festival event next week. However, unlike Tory Alison Redford, who this Saturday will becomethe first Alberta premier to take part in the Edmonton prideparade, Smith instead plans to show up at a smaller informationsession on Tuesday. The event Smith has chosen is the Edmonton Police chief's pridereception, where she will have an opportunity to talk to theforce's Sexual Minorities Liaison Committee. "I want to find out a little bit about some of the experiencesthe community has had, and some of the issues the investigatingofficers have had to deal with," Smith said. "I thinkthat's an important first step in building some inroads into thatcommunity." Asked why she won't be at Saturday's parade, the leader of theright-wing provincial party said the police chief's reception fitbetter into her schedule. "The thing about pride week in Edmonton is that it's much morethan the parade. There are lots of information sessions. That's whyI'm going to one of them, and I'm looking forward to making somenew acquaintances in the community." There are questions about what kind of reception Smith might get atthe festival following an emotional provincial election in whichthe Wildrose came under fire for the views of some of itscandidates on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. One Wildrose candidate, pastor Allan Hunsperger, became a majortarget of derision over a 2011 blog post in which he characterizedthe Edmonton public school board as "profane" and"wicked" for its protection of gay students, and wrotegays will burn in a "lake of fire." Smith took some heat on the issue after she refused to condemnHunsperger, saying she would not discriminate against anyone'sreligious views. Hunsperger lost his election bid in Edmonton-South West, as did ahandful of other Wildrose candidates who had expressed objectionsto same-sex marriage. "I think there was probably a misunderstanding about where ourparty stands on that," Smith said Wednesday. "I thinkevery party has people with a diversity of views on contentioussocial issues. Ms. Redford's party is no different. There was aparticular candidate who expressed his personal views. It's notreflective of the views of the rest of our candidates." Smith said that, as a politician with a strong libertarian stance,"I believe in free speech and I believe this community hasevery right to be able to express themselves in any way that isappropriate for their community." Pride festival co-chair Warren Becker said he's happy Smith isattending one of the events, calling it a "step in the rightdirection." Asked if the Wildrose leader might be the target of protests ortaunts, Becker said he hopes that doesn't occur. "I don't think it's very polite for that to happen," hesaid. "We are known for educating the public. So, to boo theofficial opposition when we haven't properly educated them is thewrong message to sound out." Hunsperger's blog has become the inspiration for T-shirts expectedto be popular items at the festival. The shirts which carry themessage "I stayed at the Lake of Fire and all I got was thislousy T-shirt" will be sold to benefit Camp fYrefly, aretreat for sexual and gender minority youth. Becker said festival organizers don't approve of the shirts, butwill not stop them from being sold. Speaking to reporters in Calgary on Wednesday, Redford noted theparade will be marshalled by trustees from Edmonton Public Schools,an organization she commended for its work supporting students"working through some of these issues." Redford said she didn't know why previous premiers decided to skipthe pride festival. "I can only speak to who I am, and what I believe the valuesof Albertans are, and what Albertans I believe want our communitiesto look like to be respectful and tolerant and inclusive," shesaid. "I have been a supporter of diversity and equal rightsfor the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered) communityand every other Albertan and was happy to be included." With files from Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Diode Laser Hair Removal , Skin Rejuvenation System Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Lipo Laser Weight Loss today!
Related Articles -
Diode Laser Hair Removal, Skin Rejuvenation System Manufacturer,
|
