Conservatives offer false hope for gay teens

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.thecord.ca/articles/49162

Following the suicide of teenager Jamie Hubley, many people have compiled tribute videos, primarily directed at the gay student. Some of these videos have had enormous success, such as Rick Mercer’s rant. The Conservative government, much to many Canadians’ surprise, also published a video using the “it gets better” slogan.

While I never commend the Conservatives for, well anything, this might be the first thing the Conservatives have ever done to even remotely attempt to connect with the gay community.
Yet, given the Conservatives’ record on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) issues, one must question the sincerity of the claims they are making.

Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the message in the video. However, my problem lies with the members of parliament (MPs) featured in the video and the policy of the party.

Perhaps the most questionable of the MPs in the video is David Sweet. While in the video he states “it gets better … don’t stay silent.” Sweet has stated that he believes homosexuality is a sin. He subscribes to this view to such an extent that he was the 0resident of Promise Keepers, a group which sells a book entitled Leaving Homosexuality: A Practical Guide for Men and Women Looking for a Way Out.