Hello!
Welcome to the Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival! Thank you for fighting for the democracy, equality, and respect being celebrated today.
Part of what makes Vancouver such a great place to live is this strong and open support for the unique culture and spirit of our LGBTTQ community, and the deep commitment to the wellbeing of all—without exception. As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra, I am proud that under the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau, Canada established the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to enshrine in law Canadian values of justice and equality. In 2005, a Liberal government legalised same-sex marriages and civil unions. I thought you might be interested in an excerpt from a June 2012 speech I gave in the House of Commons supporting Bill C-279, which would prohibit discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and expression:
“I am proud that in 1996, guided by the principles of equality, justice, and the fundamental need to protect vulnerable groups in Canadian society so we may prosper together, the Liberal Party amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination. It is now time to carry on that fight by making it clear that discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression are also to be prohibited in our society. Our job, as members of Parliament, is to do our very best for the common good and our very best to show respect, inclusion, and humanitarian care for all members of our society.”
To read the rest of my speech, please visit http://bit.ly/Ow1D0M
Enjoy a wonderful Pride Day!
Best Regards,
