‘Lake of fire’ re-ignites at terrible time for Wildrose
The Wildrose’s homophobic “lake of fire” has turned into a tire fire.
It is proving impossible to extinguish.
The latest flare-up came on the weekend when outraged party members used social media to attack Cody Johnston, an openly gay Wildrose staff member, who had innocently said he would attend Saturday’s Pride events in Edmonton.
“What kind of crap is this that you’re mailing out in the name of the Wild Rose (sic) party,” snarled one detractor in a Facebook post made public by Johnston. “This party does not support this kind of life style (sic) and we certainly don’t promote it.”
Another snapped at Johnston about a “sinful lifestyle” and added, “Do not give the viewers the impression that this is Wildrose approved. What is Brian Jean’s position regarding what you are doing?”
Wildrose Leader Brian Jean’s position?
Most likely the fetal position under his desk when he saw the anti-gay inflammatory comments from posters who claimed to be proud Wildrose members.
This is absolutely the last thing Jean wants to deal with as he tries to sell today’s Wildrose party as inclusive and friendly toward the LGBTQ community.
Based on the bigoted Facebook comments, today’s Wildrose party looks very much like yesterday’s Wildrose party.
The postings dredge up memories of the infamous Bible-thumping, anti-gay rant that came to light during the 2012 provincial election where a Wildrose candidate had said homosexuals would burn in a “lake of fire.”
That helped torpedo the party’s chances just days before the election.
Then-party leader Danielle Smith tried to do damage control by selling the Wildrose as more open and friendly to the LGBTQ community (sound familiar?). She marched in a Pride Parade, then discovered social conservatives in her own party were determined to punish her for doing so.
According to Smith, who talked about the mutiny long after the fact, the disgruntled party members surreptitiously campaigned against her during four byelections in September 2014. The Wildrose lost all four contests. Smith said party members figured they had taught her a “lesson.”
At the Wildrose convention in November 2014, Smith tried again to remake the party’s image by declaring it would embrace a motion protecting “sexual orientation.”
Instead, a majority of party members made a point of defeating the motion, thus embarrassing Smith who, fed up, began secret talks to cross the floor to the governing PCs.
Now, the party’s social conservatives are creating headaches for Jean. Jean’s response is to lie low and avoid reporters.
He has made sure Johnston issued a statement mentioning that even though he received “disgusting messages,” he also received “an outpouring of support from many Wildrose members, including MLAs and Wildrose Leader Brian Jean.”
Johnston’s initial statement wasn’t nearly so measured. On Facebook Saturday morning, he said he was “wondering why the Wildrose base is so god damn homophobic.” He also called on the party to revoke the memberships of his attackers.
Jean’s “outpouring of support” for Johnston and the LGBTQ community might have had more impact if Jean had done it in person by, say, turning up at the Pride Parade to march with Wildrose MLA Tany Yao, who was the only caucus member to participate.
Jean said he had other commitments — which you’d think must include not irritating socially conservative Wildrose members who will be voting on amalgamating the party with the PCs this summer (followed by a leadership race).
On Monday, the Wildrose did offer up party president Jeff Callaway in Jean’s place to insist that only a “handful” of people in the Wildrose are bigots.
Callaway said the party’s disciplinary committee will review the Facebook comments to determine if the authors should be kicked out of the party: “They’re completely inconsistent with the principles of this party, of respecting people and treating everyone with dignity.”
The Wildrose executive is determined to extinguish the party’s “lake of fire” intolerance.
That will prove easier said than done if intolerant party members continue to act as political arsonists.