Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my disappointment in how my beloved city of Yellowknife is being advertised around the country as a city so insecure in its identity as to feel the need to celebrate a heterosexual day.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, as one council member put it so succinctly, I find this to be extremely frivolous and vexatious and a real mockery of the day of celebration hard fought and won by one of the most marginalized and victimized people in our society. Mr. Speaker, I believe no matter where people stand on the issue of gay rights, most reasonable and sensitive people will not condone an elected body actively advocating and practising discrimination and bigotry.

Mr. Speaker, in case this is not patently obvious to everyone, every day is a heterosexual day in this country and every part of the world. Heterosexual teenagers do not get murdered and beaten up for their sexual identity. Heterosexual spouses are not refused a visit to the bedside of a dying life mate because of their sexual identity. Heterosexual people are not denied the rights to the properties and wealth of their deceased spouse because of their identity. There are no aboriginal heterosexual youth who are forced to move into bigger communities because of their sexual identity.

Mr. Speaker, there are very serious and compelling reasons for us to mark the days like Gay Pride Day, International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination on March 21st, or National Aboriginal Day on June 21st. Wouldn’t it be totally ridiculous if someone suggested that we declare every day of the year other than June 21st non-aboriginal day?

Mr. Speaker, I have suggested many times before that an elected leader should act as an elected leader and fight for the basic human rights of everyone, because as someone born and raised as a girl in a developing country, and a person of a visible minority community in Canada, I know a thing or two about being discriminated against. When I was young, like the students sitting in the gallery, I remember saying to myself that if I ever became successful and got somewhere in life, I would speak out for those people who are being oppressed by the majority and who are not able to defend themselves.

Mr. Speaker, none of us should have a monopoly on basic human rights and Charter rights we hold dear. Whenever we see someone do that…

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Ms. Lee, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Lee, you may continue your statement.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to conclude by saying that none of us should have a monopoly on basic human rights and Charter rights we hold so dear. Whenever we see someone do that, especially an elected body, good people and especially the leader should stand up and say that should not be tolerated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause