LGBT advocates in Ablerta, Canada are thrilled that Progressive Conservative Alison Redford will be the first sitting Alberta premier to address Edmonton's Pride Parade on June 9, the Edmonton Journal reports:
“It’s quite significant,” said Colleen Sutherland, co-chair of the Edmonton Pride Festival Society. “This is record-breaking news. I think that it shows that everybody is accepted across the province and it emphasizes the Edmonton (public) school board taking on the new sexual orientation and gender identity policy.”
During April’s provincial election, the Wildrose party found itself in the hot seat after a 2011 blog post surfaced by Allan Hunsperger, a pastor and subsequently defeated Wildrose candidate for Edmonton South. In the post, Hunsperger criticized the Edmonton public school board as “profane” and “wicked” for its antibullying stance in support of gay students, and wrote gays will burn in a “lake of fire.”
Redford’s involvement in this year’s Pride festivities takes a stand against that, Sutherland said.
Redford plans to make opening remarks at the Pride celebration at 1:30 pm.
