Premier Christy Clark takes a pass on the Pride parade

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      Yesterday, I wrote a post about the politicians I saw in the 2011 Vancouver Pride parade.

      One of the commenters pointed out that she didn't see a single B.C. Liberal MLA, and then declared, "Shame on them."

      I never saw any of them, either, even though Vancouver has six B.C. Liberal MLAs—Christy Clark, Colin Hansen, Moira Stilwell, Margaret MacDiarmid, Mary McNeil, and Kash Heed.

      As a broadcaster, Clark made a name for herself as an opponent of bullying, urging people to wear pink on Anti-Bullying Day. She wore pink herself when she climbed aboard the CKNW Radio float in 2009.

      This year's Pride parade offered her an opportunity as premier to reinforce that message. I'm left wondering why she didn't show up, given that she represents Vancouver-Point Grey. The MP for that area and her former cabinet colleague, Joyce Murray, marched in the parade.

      Did Clark not want to alienate the religious right, which is being wooed by the B.C. Conservatives? Was she afraid of being booed by the crowd? Was she ill? Or just taking the day off with her kid?

      Maybe it was a combination of all of the above. Or perhaps Clark and some of those other B.C. Liberal MLAs did march in the parade, and I just missed them. That's a slim possibility, given that this event lasted for hours.

      But I find it interesting that when Toronto mayor Rob Ford took a pass on the annual Pride march in his city, it became a major news story in Ontario. In comparison, Clark appears to have gotten off relatively unscathed.

      Comments

      26 Comments

      Stephen Elliott-Buckley

      Aug 1, 2011 at 10:33am

      Does this mean "Families First" just means "Heterosexual Families First"?

      Talia

      Aug 1, 2011 at 10:58am

      @Stephen, yes, that's exactly what it means.

      Did the premier do anything leading up to the parade, other events etc.?

      Rob Ford in Toronto wasn't at the flag raising, wasn't at the parade. He could easily have been at the flag raising - he was hiding inside City Hall instead.

      WinkDinkerson

      Aug 1, 2011 at 11:24am

      Christy's political ass belongs to the Conservative party now. Yes, the Liberal Party of B.C. is really just the Conservative party. Probably won't be long before the name changes to Conservative.
      In the meantime, in the dimly lit rooms of Conservative caucus meetings the memo says 'stay away from anything gay'. Of course, the memo was written by the big guy at the top in Ottawa...

      Standing Water BA LLD MBA

      Aug 1, 2011 at 11:31am

      How about Family First?

      "I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple.

      I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."
      Princess Elizabeth's 21st Birthday Message

      Oh, for the days when everyone was part of one family---even if it takes a war to do that, it's probably better than the loathsome tripe we suffer under now, one part of the Imperial Family biting against another, trying to take its share of the pie.

      As to the article, maybe she didn't want to. You know, "true north strong and free"? Free meaning free to go to the Pride Parade, to not go to the Pride Parade, without having to provide some sort of justification?

      Mr. Jones

      Aug 1, 2011 at 12:40pm

      Like a lot of families she probably didn't want to expose her young son to the offensive sexuality of some of the parade participants. Perfectly understandable.

      Carrot

      Aug 1, 2011 at 1:26pm

      so where was Gregor?

      Rich Neo-Con Politicians Hate

      Aug 1, 2011 at 2:06pm

      Neo-Cons give the BC Fiberals their marching orders from the Harpo Government in Ottawa.

      That means NO Gays & dark skinned people, Black, Brown & Yellow.

      YOUTUBE HARPO GOVERNMENT 3...

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qItqs4HO6hc

      Brent

      Aug 1, 2011 at 2:19pm

      Why should politicians be forced to attend this event? What if they don't agree with all that it stands for? We are still allowed to have our own viewpoints are we not, even if free speech seems to have all but vanished nowadays?