Loney says camp closing because of his homosexuality

CBC News (Toronto) ^ | June 20 2006 | CBC News

[DBeers]

Loney says camp closing because of his homosexuality

Former hostage James Loney is accusing an Ontario Catholic camp he once worked for of closing its doors because of his homosexuality.

James Loney alleged that a youth camp closed its doors in an act of discrimination.

The closure of the Ontario Catholic Youth Leadership Camp by the Knights of Columbus Ontario State Council, which finances the camp, was an act of discrimination, Loney told a news conference Tuesday.

Loney said he and his supporters struggled with the decision to go public with the allegations, but finally decided to come forward.

"We are doing this because we care about the church, we care about young people and we care about the kind of church they are coming into," he said.

But he added, "We can't prove this. This is a concern that we have based on the sequence of events."

Loney claims the council's chairman said during a phone call on March 31, 2006, that concerns had been raised that the camp was promoting a homosexual lifestyle, and made specific reference to Loney. Shortly after, the camp closed.

The phone call apparently happened a week after Loney made national headlines when he revealed his sexual orientation and introduced his partner, Dan Hunt, on television.

Family kept ex-hostage's sexual orientation secret

Loney's family and Hunt had decided against publicizing the couple's relationship while Loney was being held hostage in Iraq, fearing it could jeopardize his life.

In a written statement, the Knights of Columbus denied Loney's sexual orientation was a factor in their decision to pull funding.

The organization said the camp closed for a review of its mission, vision and administration, and it may reopen next summer.

About 2,200 children typically attend the one-week camp every summer. It began in 1991.

Loney, partner to be honoured

Loney's allegations come the same day he and his partner are to receive the "Fearless" award during a gala ceremony marking Pride Week 2006 in Toronto.

The award, which is also the theme of this year's pride festivities, is for their perseverance during the four-month hostage ordeal.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty will present the award.

[headsonpikes]

So, I guess we all tried to sneak another gay Canadian story through hoping I would not notice

Busted, Jimmy!

That spatso is just too sharp for us Stanfield-wearing "lumberjacks"!

[CaptainCanada]

It does make you wonder if, maybe, Canada does have more gays than a normal country.

Based on your posts, I assume that would make Canada a more attractive
country for someone like yourself.. :D

[spatso]

So, here is my question? And, perhaps I am beginning to change my perspective. I am getting the impression that Canadians just don't think the gay stuff including mounties, tourists or camp counselors is all that important. Is it possible that a person could be gay and openly accepted as a conservative?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Ok... but I guess he'll show up...

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I'm right, he did.

[fanfan]

Yes.

It appears to be his favorite subject.

[headsonpikes]

Is it possible that a person could be gay and openly accepted as a conservative?

Accepted, yes; 'embraced', no.

This is pretty simple - you should give it a try.

[CaptainCanada]

Is it possible that a person could be gay and openly accepted as a conservative?

Are you asking for a "friend"? wink-wink...

[spatso]

"Are you asking for a "friend"? wink-wink"

No, but if Barney Frank ran on a GOP slate he could never get nominated. I am not sure, but I can't think of any elected GOP members who are known to be gay. Even if they could ever get nominated they would never be supported by the conservative base and, therefore, would be unelectable. McGreevey in NJ had to resign when it was reported he was involved with a boy friend and had given him a job. Does Canada have any known elected office holders who are gay?

[CaptainCanada]

Naw, we don't have the equilvalent of the U.S. "Log Cabin Republicans".
You guys south of the border are way to gay for us, so keep your deviant
behaviour on your side of the border..

[spatso]

"Naw, we don't have the equilvalent of the U.S. "Log Cabin Republicans"."

But you would think with so many gay people in Canada some would be active in politics.

[spatso]

"The new leader of the Parti Quebecois, the Quebec separatist party in Canada, is Andre Boisclair: An openly gay cocaine addict."

I googled "gay, politics, Canada," and the above is the first reference I got. I don't think Mr. Boisclair could be elected in the US.

[headsonpikes]

Naw, we don't have the equilvalent of the U.S. "Log Cabin Republicans". You guys south of the border are way to gay for us, so keep your deviant behaviour on your side of the border..

It had to be said!

Mr. Spatso: Undoubtedly many 'gay' politicians have been elected over the years, in various parties. But, being Canadian we never said anything about it.

I regret the passing of that era.

[headsonpikes]

. I don't think Mr. Boisclair could be elected in the US.

Because he's French?

Lord knows, you've got deviates of every stripe in US politics!

Do you never read the US papers???

[spatso]

"Lord knows, you've got deviates of every stripe in US politics!

Do you never read the US papers???"

Yes, I understand and you are entirely right. But when a US politician is found out to be gay it is usually a scandal issue with resignation etc. (McGreevery is the norm, Barney Frank is the exception). But the google search indicates there are lots of gay Canadian politicians who appear to be readily accepted by the voters. Mr Boisclair was elected leader of a Canadian party when he was well known to be gay and a cocaine addict. Remarkable.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I'm guessing gay Canadians did something bad to him....

[headsonpikes]

Remarkable.

Well, you remarked. There it is.

[fanfan]

I googled "gay, politics, Canada," and the above is the first reference I got.

Ahh, that is 'research'.

Good for you! You DO understand words.

[spatso]

I googled "gay, politics, Canada," and the above is the first reference I got.

Ahh, that is 'research'.

Good for you! You DO understand words.

Yes, of course, I understand research and words. I am routinely required to do contextual hermeneutical research in my work. The reason for doing a simple google search is it tells you what other people are reading. Essentially the search algorithm of google is a form of frequency distribution of variable queries. So, it tells you not just what your looking for but what other people are looking for and reading. So, on the basis of a simple query you can tell that the two most popular (in terms of search frequency) gay politicians in Canada are Boisclair an a man named S. Brison.

[GMMAC]

Aside from the point I've made repeatedly to you - & which you've repeatedly ignored - with respect to 'local' stories becoming 'national' ones far more readily up here because we have less than 1/10 of America's population base ...

... has it occurred to you that the wholes issue of deviant, oddball, communist, etc, etc, etc, elected officials has little or nothing to do with national factors?

Isn't it far more likely that it's largely an inner-urban versus suburban/rural phenomena ???

And, beyond that, one that reflects local demographics?

As example, Canada has far fewer black open racists in public life.
Why? Because we don't have as many concentrated pockets of bad attitude, descendants of slaves to elect them.

This doesn't mean either country is better or worse than the other.
No, it's just a fact of life - plain & simple.

San Francisco likely has more elected open homosexuals than Toronto which is much larger by population.
Does this prove anything as to the entirety of either the U.S. or Canada?
Not in my book but, you tell me?