Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons on Tuesday and apologised for government discrimination against members of the L-G-B-T-Q-2 community. They’ve set aside about 100-million dollars for members of the military and other federal agencies who were fired, demoted or reprimanded because of their sexual orientation in what was called the “gay purge.”

I decided to mention this after seeing Rob Oliphant on TV last night. Rob was born and raised here in the Sault. He was sponsored as a candidate for ministry by Central United Church, the congregation that he grew up in. He was a United Church minister everywhere from the Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador and later became a Member of Parliament for the Toronto riding of Don Valley West.

He tweeted yesterday and said, “It takes a lot for me to be speechless. I am that little gay kid, taunted and teased, now in the House of Commons as an MP listening to the Prime Minister acknowledge all the hurt of the LGBTQ2 community and apologising. And he finished the interview on TV, he was almost in tears, with, “that says I’m OK” and I was so moved by that.

Love and respect for everyone LGBTQ2 in the Sault and everywhere today. ~James