MAYOR SULLIVAN BRINGS PARTISAN POLITICS to ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA DAY

Oldtown News
Vancouver, BC

MAYOR SULLIVAN BRINGS PARTISAN POLITICS to ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA DAY


On Tuesday, May 13, 2008, Mayor Sam Sullivan will be making an official anti-homophobia day Mayoral proclamation in Council chambers at 2pm.

The Mayor should be commended for his leadership on this front, however, he is marring the day with a private event being held in the Mayor's office for selected invitees only. This event is prior to the reading of the proclamation.

Mayor Sullivan had one of his prominent supporters review the list as a number of notable and prominent names were excluded from the invite list.

Jamie Lee Hamilton, a longtime GLBT community activist and a past honoree of the Community Hero award states," it is truly a sad day for Vancouver citizens when the Mayor decides to play segregationist politics. Bringing partisan politics into what should be a partisan free day is clearly wrong and this demonstrates why Mayor Sam Sullivan is not suited for the job of Vancouver Mayor".

"The appropriate way of handling these types of matters is to read out the Mayoral proclamation than invite guests into the council chamber foyer for a short reception where celebrants and Councillors can mix", claims Ms Hamilton.

Anti-homophobia day is about inclusion and it is deeply concerning that the Mayor chose instead to practice exclusion.


Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.com