Premier Kathleen Wynne hails crusaders in gay rights struggle
Canada’s first openly gay premier paid tribute to Canada’s gay-rights crusaders as she addressed a national conference Friday in London for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne spoke about how far a city like London has come since then-mayor Dianne Haskett refused to proclaim Gay Pride in 1995, and how far there is still to go.
“Over the last several decades, the change that all of you have helped create through Pride has been as inspirational as it has been transformational. I probably wouldn’t be standing here today if not for the efforts of so many who came before,” Wynne said.
“My partner, Jane, was one of those people in the trenches. She was one of those people who never used pronouns because she didn’t know if it was safe.
“For me, I came out when I was 37. I’d already lived all the privileges of a straight white woman, and I was indignant at being pushed aside. That was very different than coming out in 1965 as a teenager, so thank you to those who came before me. It is because of their work that I am here.”
Wynne addressed Fierte Canada Pride, an umbrella organization for gay pride groups across the country, which was holding its annual general meeting in London.
Though as Ontario’s first woman premier, she’s championed issues “previously mislabelled as social concerns or so-called women’s issues,” Wynne said her top priority is jobs and growth.
“I am often asked, ‘What’s it like being the first woman or the first lesbian premier? The truth is, I don’t know. I’ve never been a male or straight premier, so I can’t say what the difference might be. But one way I probably don’t differ from some of my straight male predecessors is in that top priority,” she said.
Gay pride groups bring inclusivity to cities, and that helps those cities prosper, Wynne said.
Wynne, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews of London and Education Minister Liz Sandals also announced a rebranding of four programs for children and families into one-stop-shops.
Ontario Early Years Centres, Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, Child Care Resource Centres and Better Beginnings, Better Futures Centres will merge under the banner Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres, where parents can get advice, attend workshops and get information and referrals to services.
Wynne hails gay rights crusaders | The London Free Press
Canada’s first openly gay premier paid tribute to Canada’s gay-rights crusaders as she addressed a national conference Friday in London for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne spoke about how far a city like London has come since then-mayor Dianne Haskett refused to proclaim Gay Pride in 1995, and how far there is still to go.
“Over the last several decades, the change that all of you have helped create through Pride has been as inspirational as it has been transformational. I probably wouldn’t be standing here today if not for the efforts of so many who came before,” Wynne said.
“My partner, Jane, was one of those people in the trenches. She was one of those people who never used pronouns because she didn’t know if it was safe.
“For me, I came out when I was 37. I’d already lived all the privileges of a straight white woman, and I was indignant at being pushed aside. That was very different than coming out in 1965 as a teenager, so thank you to those who came before me. It is because of their work that I am here.”
Wynne addressed Fierte Canada Pride, an umbrella organization for gay pride groups across the country, which was holding its annual general meeting in London.
Though as Ontario’s first woman premier, she’s championed issues “previously mislabelled as social concerns or so-called women’s issues,” Wynne said her top priority is jobs and growth.
“I am often asked, ‘What’s it like being the first woman or the first lesbian premier? The truth is, I don’t know. I’ve never been a male or straight premier, so I can’t say what the difference might be. But one way I probably don’t differ from some of my straight male predecessors is in that top priority,” she said.
Gay pride groups bring inclusivity to cities, and that helps those cities prosper, Wynne said.
Wynne, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews of London and Education Minister Liz Sandals also announced a rebranding of four programs for children and families into one-stop-shops.
Ontario Early Years Centres, Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, Child Care Resource Centres and Better Beginnings, Better Futures Centres will merge under the banner Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres, where parents can get advice, attend workshops and get information and referrals to services.
Wynne hails gay rights crusaders | The London Free Press
