Poilievre rejects 'straight pride' message in controversial Calgary Stampede photo

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre sought to distance himself Wednesday from a man who wore a "straight pride" T-shirt while posing for a photo with Poilievre at the Calgary Stampede over the weekend.

Smith and Poilievre disagree with 'Straight Pride' message on t-shirt 

Smith and Poilievre disagree with 'Straight Pride' message on t-shirt

2 years ago

Duration 10:00

Power Panelists Kelly Cryderman, Françoise Boivin, Kate Harrison and Michele Cadario discuss how Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre responded to the controversy triggered by photos taken of them posing with a man wearing a 'Straight Pride' shirt at the Calgary Stampede.

In an interview with CBC's Power & Politics on Wednesday, Smith also said she didn't read the man's T-shirt before standing for a picture.

"I'm a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. I'm not going to be a political billboard for anybody's messages. I don't agree with the sentiments expressed in the shirt," the premier said.

"I get thousands of pictures that I take, especially during an event like Stampede. I'll just be more mindful — and ask my staff to be more mindful — of those kinds of messages."

Kristopher Wells, a Canada Research Chair for the public understanding of sexual and gender minority, said the notion of straight pride is an attempt to ridicule and demean the identities of LGBTQ people

He said that the photos indicate social approval of the message, whether the leaders like it or not.

"These political leaders are savvy. They know all about messaging," he said. "Nobody thinks that the wool was pulled over their eyes."