Deputy Premier of Ontario George Smitherman, who is the first openly gay Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario, Canada and the first openly gay cabinet minister, married his partner Christopher Peloso in a ceremony over the weekend.
The Toronto Star reports: “Smitherman, who as provincial health minister is a senior member of cabinet and often mentioned on the shortlist of future candidates for mayor of Toronto, acknowledged that such a public pronouncement of love would have political overtones. ‘We haven’t sought to make it political. It happens to be who I am and what I’ve done for almost my entire adult life so it’s no surprise that it is going to have some political elements to it,’ Smitherman said. ‘It was going to make a statement wherever it was. Christopher’s a northern boy (from Sudbury) so it’s pretty appropriate we do it here,’ he added. The guests were mostly extended family (four generations from both sides) with only three area politicians invited, as well as human rights lawyer Doug Elliott, a long-time friend, and former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall who made the wedding cake, along with 200 individual cupcakes.”
Smitherman became engaged to Peloso, whom he met in 1994 but didn’t date until two years ago, last February.
Smitherman Weds Gay Partner [toronto star]
Ontario cabinet minister marries gay partner [ctv]
