Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made headlines yesterday when he stopped in at the Fountainhead Pub in Vancouver’s West End in advance of the city’s Pride celebration this weekend.
Many believe this may have been the first time a sitting Prime Minister dropped by a gay bar.
According to Taran Parmar, reporter for City News 1130, Trudeau walked around the pub shaking hands and posing for photos for about fifteen minutes.
Parmar described the scene as, “Lots of cheering, lots of excitement, a lot of people that tried to rush him and take a picture as well as take his hand.”
“Vancouver is gearing up for #Pride weekend right now, but the spirit of pride and inclusivity is strong here all year long!” wrote Trudeau from his own Twitter account. “Thanks to the folks at @fountainheadVAN for the warm welcome today.”
This is the first time a sitting Canadian PM has visited a gay bar, and may even be the first instance the leader of a country has done this. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/Vt5o1g6pum
— Tarnjit Kaur Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) July 30, 2019
Vancouver is gearing up for #Pride weekend right now, but the spirit of pride and inclusivity is strong here all year long! Thanks to the folks at @fountainheadVAN for the warm welcome today. pic.twitter.com/vQWgTUG9xw
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 30, 2019
People genuinely happy to see @JustinTrudeau as he visits the Fountainhead Pub, in the heart of Vancouver’s gay village. Apparently first sitting head of state to do visit a gay bar. No surprise. @HedyFry has held this seat for 25+ years. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/cIql23PRBR
— Charmaine de Silva (@char_des) July 30, 2019
The prime minister has a strong history of supporting the LGBTQ community.
In 2016, Trudeau became the first sitting prime minister to take part in Toronto’s Pride Parade, the largest LGBTQ pride celebration in Canada.
In 2017, he issued a public apology to gay Canadians who were fired from jobs and dismissed from the military from the 1950s through the 1990s. “It is our collective shame that you were so mistreated,” said Trudeau speaking at the House of Commons.
Additionally, he introduced the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, which erased the records of Canadians who were previously convicted of “consensual homosexual activity.” That legislation was passed last June.
Social media celebrated the visit by Trudeau posting selfies with the Prime Minister.
One Instagrammer wrote, “When the Canadian Prime Minister comes into a gay bar in Vancouver and asks your name,” adding the hashtag #LivingMyBestLife.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hbOkgBoEZ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hX-u-HN0B/
I think this would be more newsworthy if the prime minister would walk into a gay bar and say hello when it wasn’t the time around Gay Pride. And when there isn’t a federal election in Canada in a few months. I’m ready to be more than a photo opp.
An example of how perspective can affect reaction. I cried reading this yet Thom took a positive and turned it into a negative. I’d switch presidents with you if you’d like ..Trump for Trudeau? Appreciate the situation you have. With Obama out of the White House, we no longer have LGBT advisors and on day 1 of the Trump presidency, the lgbt section of whitehouse.gov was removed from the website. I’m 43, meaning I grew up watching on TV new stories of gay men dying from AIDS and being abandoned by their families (I knew I was gay at the young age); I watched school children removed from school for having a “gay” disease; I had no role models and when Matthew Shepard was murdered at 21 (same age as me at the time), I felt the world was truly an unsafe place. The gay bar is the community’s safe spot — it was for me and helped me come out at 22. A national leader and world leader entering the gay community’s safe spot and reaching out to wish patrons well and take pictures is quite courageous — it also validates the gay community on the world stage). Not much time has passed since rampant discrimination and hatred by our leaders. In the early 2000’s, St Petersburg, FL had its first Pride but the Mayor at the time refused to acknowledge it. Tampa’s pride had been banned. I’m sure your PM did not need to stop to take pictures of patrons in a gay bar to gather votes — he did it because he seems to care. The man gave a public apology for the treatment of the lgbt community based on the past. CELEBRATE these small wins and show enthusiasm — your messages are read worldwide in countries where you can be jailed or sentenced to death for sodomy — you are entitled to an opinion but did you need to express that negativity on this forum? There isn’t always a motive — it’s easy for our community to be distrustful because we still have to heal. There is still a lot of work to be done. Why not express your thoughts directly to the PM via his office or through his lgbt advisor? Think about the kids watching this event on tv or reading this article–and how that serves to help THEM feel more okay about being gay or lesbian or bi or trans. Don’t assume that Canada will remain as accepting as it is now. Look no further than the United States to find proof of that. The lgbt community needs each other to stay united and to fight through these old feelings that many of us 30 and above carry around with us everyday – we use sarcasm to cover pain. Hope at least some of that made sense. I’m writing in response to anyone who may have felt the same way you do as I’m sure there are many out there –not to personally single you out — have a good day 🙂
Different people in different nations with different political circumstances. The gay community is a diverse one, and that is what those who read this forum need to hear so they can understand. You make good point about contacting PM office. I had already done that as well as speak to my Member of Parliament on this issue. Our PM apologizes at the drop of a hat it seems to me. Being united doesn’t mean we all agree, it means we embrace everyone and their opinions. Let us see how Canada votes in our national elections in October 2019. I wish the best for when USA goes to the polls in 2020.