Harper Gov't Comes Out as (Surprise!) Global Leader in Gay Rights

Fintan · Jan 30, 2012

An article about Canada's Conservative Government on Global Gay Rights.

Harper Gov't Comes Out as (Surprise!) Global Leader in Gay Rights

Josh D. Scheinert.
Huffington Post

It was never a Conservative campaign promise, nothing previous Liberal governments were accused of not doing enough of. But slowly, as events abroad have dictated, Canada has responded, and grown bolder. What was at first thought to be an exception has become the norm: Canada's Conservative government is a forceful, credible advocate for international gay rights.

There are not many nations that whose moral authority on this issue is as strong as Canada's. Same-sex marriage is legal in only 10 countries worldwide. When Canada stands in defence of gays abroad, there are no double standards. Personal sentiments are being pushed aside. Equality is real.

Canada's voice on this issue was first heard in 2009, in response to the now-infamous Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill. In his first public comments on the bill, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told members of his ruling party, "The prime minister of Canada came to see me and what was he talking about? Gays." Largely owing to foreign pressure, the bill is currently shelved.

In March 2011, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced a pilot program to assist refugees fleeing persecution for reasons of sexual orientation. In November, when a Nigerian bill sought to expand that country's punitive measures against gays, Foreign Minister John Baird released a statement demanding, "The Government of Nigeria must protect all Nigerians, regardless of sexual orientation."

And at the two most recent meetings of Commonwealth leaders, where 41 of 54 member states have laws against homosexuality, Minister Baird has called out his Commonwealth peers. Before leaving for the October 2011 meeting in Perth, Australia, he declared, "The rights of gays and lesbians are tremendously important. It is completely unacceptable that homosexuality continues to be criminalized in a majority of Commonwealth countries, and we will certainly take that issue to the summit."

In London last week, Minister Baird again took to the moral high ground before an audience of leaders, most of whom are indifferent at best to his message. "We don't compromise on basic rights," Minister Baird declared before calling out African and Caribbean Commonwealth nations with "regressive and punitive laws on the books the criminalize homosexuality."

Canada is not alone. Globally, the issue is gaining more and more traction. Last December Hilary Clinton delivered a powerful address in honour of Human Rights Day, where she declared, "Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights" and noted that President Obama put in place an official strategy for the promotion of gay rights abroad. In the U.K., Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested tying portions of the U.K. foreign aid budget to a country's gay-rights record.

While the U.S. and U.K. efforts are important, both for their reach, and evidence that there is growing impatience with government-sanctioned persecution and bigotry towards gays, they are missing one fundamental lynchpin: the ability to without embarrassment or hypocrisy defend their domestic gay rights as they call on others to reform.

Canada, on the other hand, has nothing to hide, putting us in a tremendous position to not only continue our advocacy on this front, but to lead on it.

Prime Minister Harper and Ministers Baird and Kenney have displayed their commitments to the rights of gays abroad. Now it's time to raise the bar and turn statements into action.

Like the U.S., Canada should implement an official strategy for the promotion of international gay rights that includes:

• Instructions that diplomats continue to raise the issue with their counterparts in public and private. It shouldn't just be Minister Baird's job. And Ugandan President Museveni shouldn't be the only one being cornered on "gays."
• Canada should offer targeted assistance to advocates of LGBT rights in countries where they face harassment or persecution.
• States that move on LGBT rights, by changing laws and advocating acceptance instead of hate, should benefit from increased Canadian support in the form of financial and material assistance aimed at facilitating tolerance and change.
• Finally, in recognition of the fact that this task is greater than any one nation alone, and that of those nations taking a bold stance, Canada stands tallest, Canada should appoint an official envoy to identify key issues and challenges and help co-ordinate global efforts on this front, working with government and NGO counterparts to ensure that national policies are focused and harmonized, maximizing potential for success and that local advocates are supported.

The path forward will not be easy and progress will be slow. Numerous issues have to be delicately dealt with. Based on my experiences of twice having to hide my gay identity over extended periods throughout Africa, I will address those in my next blog.

However, as evidenced by the Ugandan bill, results are possible. Thus, armed by this knowledge and the justness of the cause, and fueled by the belief, as Minister Baird said in London, that while "our nationalities are many, we share one humanity," Canada has no other choice but to push forward.

Whether we intended to or not, we have started something. Let us follow through.
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GoogieHowser · Jan 30, 2012

wow, what a difference their conservatives are compared to ours! lets all move to canada!

Katelynn · Jan 30, 2012

GoogieHowser said: ↑

wow, what a difference their conservatives are compared to ours! lets all move to canada!
Click to expand...

Whoa, hold on there! I will tell you right now, the Conservative Party of Canada is not all its cracked up to be. Our Conservative Party merged years ago with the Reform Party of Canada, which, for lack of a better way of putting it, was pretty much the Canadian equivalent of the Tea Party Republicans in the US. And guess who the leader of the Reform Party was? Yep, you guessed it. Stephen Harper, the current Conservative Prime Minister. As great as it is the Conservatives have stepped up on LGBT issues, the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) have been for LGBT rights for decades. And they are for a lot more than just that for Canadians as well, too much to go into really. Canada is a pretty good place to live, but it has its issues like anywhere else. I have never voted Conservative in any federal election, nor will I. There are a lot of reasons not to. I vote NDP now, they actually stand up for everybody, in more ways than a few. Beautiful thing about our country was we FINALLY learned that the third party off to the side of things, yep , they are an acttual viable alternative, which is why the last federal election radically changed the politcal landscape up here! Still, you should definitely come to Canada! It is, overall, a wonderfully great place!

GoogieHowser · Jan 30, 2012

thanks for the clarification. but you must admit our conservatives are fairly close to nazis compared to your conservatives. jk...no im not

lets hope the ndp remains strong without jack leyton...yeah, i kinda follow canadian politics a little ha!

Katelynn · Jan 30, 2012

Jack Leyton was a HUGE loss to all Canadians...even his political opponents praised the man after his passing. Even citizens who have never & will never vote NDP thought he was a decent, honourable guy. You have to admit, as far as politicians go, that is saying quite a bit. Im not of fan of PM Harper, but one thing I respected him for doing was making sure that Leyton was given a state funeral, something that wasnt required but was certainly warranted.

As for the NDP, Leyton's legacy looms large over that party these days. Evidence they still follow Leyton's beliefs for the rights of everyone:

Randall Re-Introduces Trans Rights Bill

Leyton was supported trans rights way back in the 1980s as a Toronto city councillor, back before anyone else in govt was even supporting LGBT rights in any significant way. His influence on supporting LGBT rights has clearly rubbed off on the party, as they have consistently stated they will continue to support LGBT rights in Canada.

As for parties being compared to the Nazis, I believe the Reform Party of Canada was compared to those guys as well more than once back in the 90s. I will admit tho, conservative in Canada is a bit different than conservative in the US, there is definitely a difference. Alberta is a scary place to be sometimes tho, its sort of the Texas of Canada... lol!

Bradley · Jan 31, 2012

I am usually critical of almost everything the Conservatives do, but I am pleasantly surprised by this. I know that many Conservative MPs have personal objections to gay rights, but they are smart enough to realize that the majority of Canadians support gay rights, and that any anti-gay legislation put forward would be political suicide.

Even when the most conservative party is in power, I don't have to worry about my rights being trampled. I am so happy that I live in Canada! I have traveled to countries where homosexuality is punishable by death...It just blows my mind that places like that still exist in this day and age.

TheEdend · Jan 31, 2012

Finally! Hopefully someday we will see the same thing happening all over the world. I think its bullshit that gay rights are played as a party issue in almost every single country rather than something that every person should support. Even LGBT organizations refuse to give funding to conservatives who fully support rights for the community. Its ridiculous.

Its still not perfect, but man is it much, much better than just 60 years ago!

Bradley · Feb 3, 2012

Also, John Baird is gay himself, so I would hope he would stand up for gay rights.

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