A BC Conservative Party leadership candidate has said in a radio interview that gays should not have “special rights” because homosexuality is a choice.
John Cummins, who recently stepped down as Conservative Member of Parliament for Delta-Richmond East to run as leader of the BCCP, told Victoria’s CFAX Radio that he’s “not a scientist, [but] some of the research tells me that there’s more of an indication that that’s a choice issue.”
According to the Times Colonist (Victoria), Cummins later told reporters, “I’m pro-life, I’m protraditional marriage, that’s my view, I’m not a scientist.” He refused to defend his views, saying they were “personal issues, private issues.”
In 1996, as an MP, Cummins voted against introducing sexual orientation under the Canadian Human Rights Act, which lists “prohibited grounds of discrimination,” including religion, race and gender.
In the run-up to the recent election, many of us here in Canada were concerned that a majority Conservative government would put power in the hands of social conservatives who want to curb the rights of gays and lesbians. In 2006, 110 out of 124 Conservative MPs (and a minority of Liberals) voted unsuccessfully to turn back the clock on same-sex marriage and “restore traditional marriage,” in a free vote called for by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Harper, who returned to parliament with his first majority government last week, said during the election campaign he would not reopen the same-sex marriage debate. Cummins’s comments are a reminder that social conservatives — holding unscientific, religiously motivated views that can and will be used to discriminate against LGBT persons — are still a presence in Canadian politics.
Meanwhile, a new study finds that two out of three non-heterosexual kids in Canada don’t feel safe in their schools.
[This story has been updated to make a factual correction.]
Well…sorry Mr. Cummins but I don’t hold with your view that homosexuality is a choice. Has he ever stopped to consider the turmoil and fear of rejection “coming out” can cause to GLBT individuals? I can’t imagine anyone choosing the lifestyle/identity with all the negative results this can engender.
Perhaps Mr. Cummins could spare some of his valuable time and speak directly to members of the GLBT community to put a balance on his judgements?
I think his “research” was only focused on learning the proper talking points for speaking to ignorant gullible people to assure they remain in the anti-gay camp. “It’s a choice” is one of those talking points.
I doubt that will happen. He isn’t even willing to defend his beliefs publicly, despite being happy to base policies on them.
John Cummings, when did you make your choice to be straight?
It’s not, but being ignorant is.
I will never, EVER understand a hetero person voicing this opinion as if it’s indisputable fact, without even consulting actual gay people to make it. Those who will never have the experience are in no position to lecture to those who are what it is or feels like.
Men can’t lecture to women what to do about the pain of childbirth, let alone what causes it and why they deserve such pain and to endure it (according to the Bible). A man might go ahead on and do such a lecture, but he’d look like the arrogant and dispassionate person he is doing it.
Preferably, I’d rather he’d try and voice that opinion while a women is in labor with a firm grip on his nuts.
Harper himself may not table anything to reopen the marriage issue himself, but you can bet that his wingnut backbenchers will. (and conveniently, Harper and his cabinet will allow it to pass…)