Nova Scotia PC leader hopeful marries same-sex partner

Another step was taken towards equal marriage as two loving people tied the knot in Nova Scotia.

The fact this is newsworthy is that the mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and a contender for the leadership of the PC party of Nova Scotia, has come out in full force as being gay. Cecil Clarke, 50, and Kyle Peterson, 40, were married in St. Matthews United Church in North Sydney in front of hundreds of guests.

Clarke is considered a frontrunner in the race for the party’s leadership. The fact a politician comes out of the closet is not a new phenomenon, but it does make the news. Premier Wade MacLauchlan of Prince Edward Island, a recipient of the Order of Canada, and the first openly gay man to be a provincial premier in Canada, was welcomed with open arms in 2015.

In our society where discrimination remains a serious issue, such developments gives one hope that the future looks a bit brighter for Canada’s LGBTQ+ citizens.

In Ottawa, a number of gay MPs have graced the seats in our Parliament for a number of years, beginning with the NDP’s Svend Robinson, a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights. We have a prime minister who supports the LGBTQ+ community without hesitation. His apology in the House for past wrongs committed against the community was welcomed with appreciation and was never attempted by other leaders in this country. The fact Justin Trudeau named a special advisor to the prime minister was historic, and brought forth another huge step in our country towards equal rights as a mainstay in Canada. Trudeau also sends the message to other nations in a call for equal treatment, as did his colleague to the south, Barrack Obama.

The world is in desperate need of such actions, and if equality is to be initiated and maintained, our existence around the globe would benefit greatly. The pressure must not be eliminated and consequently inroads will come slowly, but surely. That is the hope of many.

The well-publicized wedding of Clarke and Peterson resonates around our nation in a positive, inclusive way. We are fully aware of the long road that has been travelled with many obstacles and twists and turns, however, with each bit of news such as the wedding in Cape Breton, a light shines again, giving us an example of the positives we acquire in time.

Clarke and Peterson give us that light, letting the LGBTQ+ citizens of this country the idea that all is possible if we contribute to the betterment of society. The happy spouses obviously are contributing to this effort to show that inclusion in marriage, in love and in the journey of life, one’s sexual orientation, or true gender identity or expression are not the issue, but acceptance of each other as human beings is the profound conclusion.

Canada, as has been out numerous times, has been and remains a leader in LGBTQ+ rights, regardless of some of our politicians such as anti-gay Jason Kenney of Alberta, and some others in Ottawa, as well as the provinces. As leaders step up to the plate to support the LGBTQ+ citizens in this country we celebrate. In the case of Cecil Clarke, we see a bright spot. He is in the political arena and that carries much responsibility, also giving him the opportunity to lead the work towards positive change.

Our LGBTQ+ population depends on politicians who come out and speak freely about the concerns that are faced daily. So, we may celebrate with the happy couple, and look ahead to a time when this sort of news will not make a headline, but considered a normal occurrence.

Gerard Veldhoven is a longtime activist for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His column appears Wednesdays in The News. Comments and information: lgbtconnectionsgv@gmail.com.