Joan Crockatt Calgary Pride parade invite rationale a 'misrepresentation', says Egale Canada
Calgary Pride statement says MP's vote against transgender rights bill followed discussion with Egale
Egale Canada says it was misrepresented in connection with the controversy surrounding Calgary MP Joan Crockatt's participation in next month's pride parade.
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Crockatt voted against Bill C-279, a piece of legislation that was aimed at bolstering transgender rights, by adding gender identity provisions to both the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act.
The bill ultimately died when Parliament was dissolved for the fall election.
Angela Reid with the Trans Equality Society of Alberta questioned Calgary Pride's decision to welcome Crockatt to the parade given her opposition to the bill.
Calgary Pride then issued a statement last week explaining that while officials had not examined the MP's voting record on the issue, they had since had a discussion with her about her stance against Bill C-279.
"This discussion revealed that the opposition vote was made after consultation with Egale Canada, a national human rights trust focused on promoting LGBTQA human rights, and one that has been a strong advocate for the passing of Bill C-279 without amendments," Pride Calgary said in its statement.
"Following this consultation, Joan Crockatt expressed that she did not feel the amended bill was effective to protect the Trans* community, and opted to vote in opposition in order to ensure a better Gender Identity rights bill is formed.
That explanation now has the head of Egale Canada crying foul.
"It's safe to say we would never, under any circumstances, endorse or encourage or in any way even tacitly approve of a vote against this bill," Egale Canada executive director Helen Kennedy told CBC News.
"So to use consultation with us as an explanation of her vote would be a complete misrepresentation of anything we might have said."
Crockatt was not available for comment Tuesday.