Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement today:
“On May 17, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we recognize the persistence of homophobia and transphobia in our own communities, and we renew our pledge to build a future where every person—in Canada and around the world—can live and go to school without fear.
“We are proud of the diversity and tolerance that define us as a country. Recent achievements in the fight for equality have brought us together in mutual respect.
“Today, we recall our shared pride when a Liberal government passed the Civil Marriage Act (Bill C-38), which received Royal Assent on July 20th, 2005, and marriage equality became the law of the land – overcoming vocal opposition from the Conservative party.
“Our work is not yet finished. More than four decades after Pierre Trudeau removed homosexuality from the criminal code, too many of our fellow Canadians still live with fear and intimidation because of who they are, and too often, public policy is susceptible to the ideology of the government of the day, as we’ve witnessed with the Conservatives’ recent funding cuts to gay pride organizations across Canada.
“Together, we will continue to work for the day when hatred and violence have no quarter, in our country or any other. And on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we stand with members of the LGBT community, and all Canadians, in defence of equality.”
