Lesbians are 'hot,' says controversial pro-oilsands Facebook post
Gay Métis Albertan behind post wants Canada to stop buying oil from Saudi Arabia
A gay Métis Albertan is getting attention for a pro-oilsands ad he posted on Facebook that says lesbians are "hot" and questions why Canada buys oil from countries "that butcher gays and lesbians."
Robbie Picard said the post is meant to highlight and spark conversation about the poor treatment of LGBTQ people in energy-rich countries.
"My question to the rest of Canada, particularly Ontario and Quebec: Why are we getting our oil from Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, places that if you're gay, they will chop off your head?" said Picard, who lives in Fort McMurray, Alta., and used to work at Suncor.
The post went up Sunday night on the Canada Oilsands Community Facebook page, which Picard said is a personal project and not directly affiliated with any official pro-oilsands organizations.
It has already received plenty of backlash.
"Congrats you've managed to be racist, sexist AND homophobic all at once!" wrote Peter McCartney on the page.
Post meant to be divisive
Picard isn't troubled by the backlash.
"If this draws attention that we are getting fuel from countries that butcher gays and lesbians — I mean, butcher them, hang them, publicly beat them — then I'm OK to take a few shots if that means it draws attention to the bigger issue."
While the past president of Calgary Pride says this is an issue that deserves to be taken seriously, she feels Picard's post poorly executed the message.
"It's obviously targeted towards a heterosexual male demographic," said Dallas Barnes, who is now the co-vice-president of InterPride.
"Sure, some girls do look like that, but it's demeaning. It sexualizes."
She says "it's absolutely everything we are trying so hard not to be."
But Picard doesn't think so.
"I will go on the record saying all lesbians are hot, and I think that people in Canada really need to understand Canadian oil is the best choice. It's the best choice when it comes to the environment. It's the best choice when it comes to equality," he said.
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