Jason and me

As executive director of the Pride Centre of Edmonton I was invited to a reception with United Conservative Party MLAs. The event was a mix and mingle of people from the LGBTQ community and the UCP MLAs

I attended of course. I am always open to a conversation.

I met a fellow named Rick and saw he was wearing a government scepter on his lapel. 

I said you are in government. He said yes. I shared I had been active politically in my hometown of Hanna.

He asked if I wished to meet Jason Kenney. I said of course.

I was pleased to meet Jason and said: I am so pleased to meet you and I would like to talk about GSAs (Gay Straight Alliances).

Immediately a staffer grabs Jason by the arm and shouts: “Jason photo op, photo op”. They drag him across the room.

I’m standing there, wine glass in hand and looking at him, thinking: “We can’t even talk?”

He sees me and comes over. I grab his arm and take him to the other side of the room. “Let’s talk”. 

“Jason, as a gay teen I was bullied by boys at school and I thought there was something terribly wrong with me. I became suicidal at 13. All we wish for is that young people feel safe.”

Jason said he would like to talk more about this and I said: “Oh I know where to find you. I’ll call you”.