Pride versus prejudice: Dick Cheney's daughter marries lesbian partner, Rob Ford a Toronto Pride flag no-show

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      Former U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney is the gleeful father of a happily wedded lesbian woman.

      As the same-sex marriage debate continues to rage on south of the border, Cheney's daughter Mary married her partner Heather Poe on June 22, according to reports. The two women were married in Washington, D.C., where same-sex marriage was legalized in 2009 and marriage licences became available in 2010.

      The couple have been in a relationship for 20 years, and have two children together.

      Cheney and his wife Lynne released a statement expressing their blessings:

       

      "Mary and Heather have been in a committed relationship for many years, and we are delighted that they were able to take advantage of the opportunity to have that relationship recognized. Mary and Heather and their children are very important and much loved members of our family and we wish them every happiness."

       

       

      Cheney had previously stated that he believed that it's up to U.S. states to decide on legalizing gay marriage. However, he also supported then-president George W. Bush's attempt for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

      But after leaving office in 2009, Cheney did an about-face and opposed a federal ban.

      President Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to openly endorse marriage equality for same-sex couples on May 9. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney supports a federal marriage amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage.

      (Cheney made headlines when he visited Vancouver for a speaking engagement last September. Vancouver police refused to arrest him, in spite of protests calling for an investigation into "overwhelming evidence" of torture committed by the Bush administration.)

      Yet despite the fact that same-sex marriage has been legal in the Great White North since 2005, apparently we share something in common with Russia regarding officials having issues with Pride parades. And his name is Rob Ford.

      CBC has confirmed that as expected (as mentioned in News For Youse), Toronto mayor Ford was a no-show for the rainbow-flag-raising as a kickoff to the 10-day Pride Week in Canada's biggest city. He also missed last year's flag-hoisting and had previously said that he doesn't attend the parade either because he has a tradition of spending his Canada Day weekend at his cottage. (Of course, we all know what he probably meant by that.)

      On the other hand, Ford did surprise audiences when he turned up at the last minute for a flag-raising event for the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17.

      Well, there's still time for Ford to change his mind.

       

       

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/StraightLGBT.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Steve Newton

      Jun 25, 2012 at 2:53pm

      why couldn't Dick Cheney's daughter have married an Iraqi lesbian partner?

      Linda Galway

      Jun 25, 2012 at 8:09pm

      Why doesn't he have the option to show or not show? We should each be able to express our own opinions

      buzz

      Jun 26, 2012 at 12:11pm

      Linda, everyone has the right to their own opinion. But in B.C. you are only allowed to voice that opinion if it agrees with the left wing platform. That's their version of equal rights.

      miguel

      Jun 26, 2012 at 1:35pm

      Who wants Rob Ford in their parade? Is his opinion, one to value?
      Miguel

      ugh

      Jun 26, 2012 at 2:05pm

      Uh, no. He should attend in his capacity of mayor or the city, representing that office and supporting a cause that's important to a significant portion of his constituents. It shouldn't be about his personal views.