Jane Taber comes closer than anyone has before to outing John Baird in today’s The Globe and Mail, “John Baird: first consort of the first lady”:
“John Baird is the other man in Laureen Harper's life, often called upon to button up his tux and escort Mrs. Harper around town when her husband, the Prime Minister, is away.
"I love John," Mrs. Harper said yesterday. "He is a great guy, he is fun to be around, he looks good in a tux and he is a great date. He is also a lover of felines."
Even the most obtuse readers, far removed from the LGBT nation, should be able to decipher that code, but we are still not quite there.
If Baird wants to be trusted on environmental issues, it’s time he trust the voters in Ottawa, and Canadians, and come out like any honest modern politician. Canadians passed the point where ”my personal life is personal“ when Scott Brison came out. An out gay minister would be a bold assertion that the Harper government is not anti-gay – is that why he remains closeted? Honest gay men and women are a better role models for gay and lesbian youth than those hiding in apparent shame.
Until he outs himself, Baird retains a stomach churning persona. Maybe, after sharing a tent with Rick Mercer (and two other CPC MPs) for a Christmas visit to the troops in Afghanistan, he will see how unflappable Canadians are.
“John Baird is the other man in Laureen Harper's life, often called upon to button up his tux and escort Mrs. Harper around town when her husband, the Prime Minister, is away.
"I love John," Mrs. Harper said yesterday. "He is a great guy, he is fun to be around, he looks good in a tux and he is a great date. He is also a lover of felines."
Even the most obtuse readers, far removed from the LGBT nation, should be able to decipher that code, but we are still not quite there.
If Baird wants to be trusted on environmental issues, it’s time he trust the voters in Ottawa, and Canadians, and come out like any honest modern politician. Canadians passed the point where ”my personal life is personal“ when Scott Brison came out. An out gay minister would be a bold assertion that the Harper government is not anti-gay – is that why he remains closeted? Honest gay men and women are a better role models for gay and lesbian youth than those hiding in apparent shame.
Until he outs himself, Baird retains a stomach churning persona. Maybe, after sharing a tent with Rick Mercer (and two other CPC MPs) for a Christmas visit to the troops in Afghanistan, he will see how unflappable Canadians are.
