Ìý
GAME OF THRONES
The BC Liberals are in the process of destroying themselves. By the words of their own Throne Speech, they’ve announced just how tone–deaf their election platform was and are now throwing out policy U-turns as some sort of ill thought-out Hail Mary pass. What’s the strategy? BC Liberals will never see through policy issues they care nothing for and their dedicated supporters must question this newfound love of the left. For a historically shrewd party used to stabbing at the heart of their competition, it seems we’re finally witnessing them falling on their own sword. –Andrew Stegemann
Ìý
VPD PRIDE
I am going to explain why the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Department is in our Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Pride Parade.
It goes back to the 1990s, when being an out gay, lesbian or transgender person meant you could be fired from your employment or evicted from your apartment. During that time, gay, lesbian and transgender union workers started to meet, share ideas and work with the management structures to help change how gays were being treated at work and off work.
During that time, we gay union members started talking about letting everyone know that we are everywhere and we are employed in almost every type of work. The discussion came up about our different unions coming together and walking or driving in our Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Pride Parade. Firefighters rode on fire trucks, bus drivers drove buses, airline employees rode on floats, and gay, lesbian and/or transgender Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»police persons walked and drove in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»police vehicles. Others, like myself and other government employees, walked and carried our different union banners in the parades. This is why the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»police staff are represented in our Pride Parade, as they also chose to step forward and acknowledge that they are gay, lesbian and transgender and deserve the right to not have to stay hidden, and can feel proud to march in our Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Pride Parades, as they have for many many years now.
It was never a case of VPD management trying to intimidate those participating in or viewing the parade. –Howard Hartford
Ìý
All rants are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of the Westender. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and brevity, so please keep it short and (bitter)sweet. Email: [email protected]
Ìý
