Source: Canadian Press, CBC News, The Hill Times
REGINA, Sask. -- A Conservative member of Parliament, who promised earlier this year to spend his life promoting tolerance after a video surfaced of him making anti-gay remarks in 1991, was a no-show Saturday at Regina's gay pride parade.
Gay groups said they were disappointed that Regina-Lumsden MP Tom Lukiwski didn't even respond to an invitation to attend the parade.
A coalition of groups said they sent Lukiwski a written invitation to attend the Saturday event, but he didn't respond.
It was the first event of its kind in Regina since a 17-year-old-video surfaced earlier this year showing Lukiwski referring to "homosexual faggots with dirt under their fingernails who transmit diseases" and making other derogatory remarks about gay people.
After the recording of the comments first surfaced, Lukiwski issued a lengthy apology, saying they don't represent his current views.
Nathan Markwart, a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Community of Regina (GLCR), a not-for-profit organization that runs a community center in Mr. Lukiwski's riding, said his organization, along with other Regina-based gay advocacy groups, sent a letter on April 11, both through the mail and electronically, in which they invited Lukiwski to meet with them. He did not respond.
"Mr. Lukiwski stated in his public apology ... that he would spend the rest of his life making amends," Markwart said. "Well, when exactly does that kick in?
"It is clear that his apology is less than sincere and is, in fact, hollow as it has not been followed up with any concerted effort to join our celebrations as an elected official who respresents gays and lesbians in Regina and surrounding area."
Markwart noted that the disappointment was heightened by their understanding that Lukiwski was in the Regina area this weekend.
"We haven't even been graced with an 'I won't show' or 'Unfortunately, I cannot attend due to conflicting events,'" he said. "Nothing, nothing. Obviously, when he said he would spend the rest of his life making amends, that's going to be a bit longer."
Lukiwski could not be reached by Canadian Press and other news outlets for comment.
Another group, the GBLUR Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, which is a student-based gay-advocacy organization at the University of Regina, held a media conference where gay groups alongside Christian groups publicly accepted Mr. Lukiwski's apologies for the remarks he made in 1991.
Still, despite the media conference and an earlier letter asking Lukiwski to meet with the organization to discuss policy initiatives relevant to gay people that a staffer in the MP's constituency office confirms they have received, there has still been no word from Lukiwski.
"I think it's appalling," NDP MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas, B.C.) told The Hill Times, an Ottawa political newsweekly.
"[Reaching out] was an important part of what needed to be done after Mr. Lukiwski's comments came to light. His apology was one piece of that but all along I've said that he needed to be meeting with members of the GLBT community in Regina to have a conversation and to see what further steps would be necessary. I think it's extremely disappointing that he hasn't responded to that invitation or that request from the community," Siksay said
Siksay, who is openly gay, was the one who raised the issue nationally in the House. He told The Hill Times that Lukiwski called him the day the videotape, which was shot at the Progressive Conservative campaign headquarters during the 1991 provincial election campaign, to personally apologize.
"I am surprised because I thought he appreciated the importance of dealing with this matter. I'm surprised at a very basic level that a Member of Parliament wouldn't meet with a constituent group that was concerted about his actions. That strikes me as very peculiar, it certainly wouldn't be the way I would practice being a Member of Parliament in my community."
Both Prime Minister Steven Harper and the government's House leader, Peter Van Loan, said at the time that Lukiwski's comments were unacceptable. But the government did not cede to calls by some opposition MPs for Lukiwski to be removed from his position as Van Loan's Parliamentary secretary.
"We believe that the apology is sincere and genuine. We are satisfied that the member does not hold those views. As a result, we believe this matter is closed," Van Loan said in the House.
Full article: Lukiwski absent at Regina pride parade | CBC News
MP who apologized for anti-gay remarks a no-show for Regina pride ... | Canadian Press
Conservative MP Lukiwski still hasn't reached out to gays | The Hill Times