On October 28, 1998, Glen Murray ma history when he was elected Wnipeg’s 41st mayor, beg the first openly gay mayor of any large cy North Ameri. Murray was re-elected 2002.
Contents:
- GLEN MURRAY BE NORTH AMERI’S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAYOR OF A MAJOR CY (OCTOBER 28, 1998)
- CANADIAN MAYOR COM OUT AS GAY AT 58 HEARTFELT OPEN LETTER"BETTER LATE THAN NEVER," JIM WATSON {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY BRANDON VOSSAUGT 18, 2019/12:44 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2250PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}MAS PANAGTAKIS - WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAGOTTAWA, ON - MARCH 29: MAYOR JIM WATSON OF OTTAWA POS WH THE WEBB ELLIS CUP DURG DAY FOUR OF THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019 TROPHY TOUR ON MARCH 29, 2019 OTTAWA, ONTAR, CANADA. (PHOTO BY MAS PANAGTAKIS - WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAG/WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAG)BY BRANDON VOSSAUGT 18, 2019 / 12:44 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"CANADIAN MAYOR COM OUT AS GAY AT 58 HEARTFELT OPEN LETTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-08-18T16:44:16.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-08-18T16:44:16.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRANDON VOSS","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE'S GAY, EH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTTAWA MAYOR JIM WATSON, 58, HAS E OUT AS GAY A PERSONAL SAY FOR THE OTTAWA CIZEN. HE HAS SERVED AS MAYOR OF CANADA'S PAL CY SCE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M GAY," WATSON BEGS HIS OPEN LETTER, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED SATURDAY. "THERE—I SAID ; OR RATHER WROTE . THOSE TWO WORDS TOOK ME ALMOST FOUR S TO UTTER, BUT AS THEY SAY, 'BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"AS I LOOK BACK OVER MY LIFE, AND HDSIGHT, NOT G OUT SOONER WAS A BIG MISTAKE ON MY PART," HE NTU, LLG THE SAY 40 YEARS THE MAKG. "MY RELUCTANCE HAS NOT ALLOWED ME TO LIVE MY LIFE AS FULL OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE AS MY GAY IENDS WHO WERE BOLR AND BRAVER THAN I EVER WAS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"OVER THE YEARS, I TOLD ONLY TWO (GAY) IENDS THAT I WAS GAY, ALTHOUGH I SPECT MOST OF MY FAY AND IENDS JT ASSUMED I WAS, BUT RPECTED MY PRIVACY AND NEVER BROACHED THE SUBJECT," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WATSON ALSO TAILS GROWG UP "VERY SOCIALLY AWKWARD," BEG LLED "JIM FAIRY" ON THE SCHOOL B AND LATER VELOPG CSH ON ACTORS LIKE ROB LOWE AND BRAD PT. EVEN WHILE ATTENDG HIS LIBERAL LLEGE HE WAS "TOO SHY OR RELUCTANT TO E TO GRIPS WH MY OWN SEXUALY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WAS ELECTED TO OTTAWA CY COUNCIL WHEN I WAS 30, AND FOR MOST OF MY PUBLIC LIFE, MY SEXUALY WAS NOT AN ISSUE," HE WR, POTG TO ONE MEMORABLE NONTATN WH A HOMOPHOBIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M PROUD OF MY TRACK RERD ON LGBTQ ISSU, OM VOTG FAVOUR OF A MOTN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE TO BEG THE FIRST OTTAWA MAYOR TO MARCH THE PRI PARA DURG MY FIRST TERM." IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS NO AARON SCHOCK.ANDREA CARD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGOTTAWA, ON - MARCH 16: MAYOR OF OTTAWA JIM WATSON SPEAKS DURG THE STANLEY CUP HOMEG AS PART OF THE STANLEY CUPS 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATNS ON MARCH 16, 2017 OTTAWA, ONTAR, CANADA. (PHOTO BY ANDREA CARD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I’VE STGGLED OFTEN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO E OUT," WATSON ADMS. "SWIRLG AROUND MY MD WERE THOUGHTS LIKE HOW MY FAY AND IENDS WOULD REACT. WOULD AFFECT MY RELATNSHIP WH MY NSTUENTS?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE HE SAYS THERE WASN'T REALLY "ONE EUREKA MOMENT," WATSON POTS TO TWO KEY CINTS THAT SPIRED HIM TO SPEAK HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2014 THE MAYOR TWEETED THAT HE WOULD FLY THE PRI FLAG AT CY HALL SOLIDARY WH LGBTQ ATHLET PETG AT THE OLYMPIC GAM SOCHI. SOMEONE TWEETED, "THIS IS A STUPID WASTE OF TIME. YOU’VE LOST MY VOTE." WATSON RPOND, "IF YOU HAVE THAT POT OF VIEW, I REALLY DON’T WANT YOUR VOTE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LATER, A MAN APPROACHED WATSON AND SAID, "I HOPE YOU’RE NOT GOG TO MARCH THAT FAG PARA," REFERRG TO THE UPG PRI PARA OTTAWA. "I’M LOOKG FORWARD TO MARCHG THE PRI PARA," WATSON REPLIED, "AND I PLAN ON DOG SO AGA, SO WHY DON’T YOU JO ME?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WATSON NCLUS HIS SAY WH THIS ADVICE: "DON’T FEEL PRSURED OR SHED TO E OUT, BUT DON’T WA 40 YEARS EHER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- CANADIAN MAYOR JIM WATSON COM OUT AS GAY AFTER 40 YEARS THE CLOSET
- MORE WOMEN AND OPENLY GAY LEARS CANADIAN POLICS: ARE BARRIERS G DOWN?
GLEN MURRAY BE NORTH AMERI’S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAYOR OF A MAJOR CY (OCTOBER 28, 1998)
* gay canadian mayors *
On October 28, 1998, Glen Murray ma history when he was elected Wnipeg’s 41st mayor, beg the first openly gay mayor of any large cy North Ameri. He's gay, eh?
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, 58, has e out as gay a personal say for the Ottawa Cizen. "I’m gay, " Watson begs his open letter, which was published Saturday. "My reluctance has not allowed me to live my life as full of love and adventure as my gay iends who were bolr and braver than I ever was.
""Over the years, I told only two (gay) iends that I was gay, although I spect most of my fay and iends jt assumed I was, but rpected my privacy and never broached the subject, " he also tails growg up "very socially awkward, " beg lled "Jim Fairy" on the school b and later velopg csh on actors like Rob Lowe and Brad Pt. ""I was elected to Ottawa Cy Council when I was 30, and for most of my public life, my sexualy was not an issue, " he wr, potg to one memorable nontatn wh a homophobic activist. 3 m readMayor of one of Canada’s biggt ci Ottawa has revealed he’s been livg the closet as a gay man for 40 years.
CANADIAN MAYOR COM OUT AS GAY AT 58 HEARTFELT OPEN LETTER"BETTER LATE THAN NEVER," JIM WATSON {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY BRANDON VOSSAUGT 18, 2019/12:44 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2250PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}MAS PANAGTAKIS - WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAGOTTAWA, ON - MARCH 29: MAYOR JIM WATSON OF OTTAWA POS WH THE WEBB ELLIS CUP DURG DAY FOUR OF THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019 TROPHY TOUR ON MARCH 29, 2019 OTTAWA, ONTAR, CANADA. (PHOTO BY MAS PANAGTAKIS - WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAG/WORLD RUGBY VIA GETTY IMAG)BY BRANDON VOSSAUGT 18, 2019 / 12:44 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"CANADIAN MAYOR COM OUT AS GAY AT 58 HEARTFELT OPEN LETTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-08-18T16:44:16.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-08-18T16:44:16.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRANDON VOSS","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE'S GAY, EH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTTAWA MAYOR JIM WATSON, 58, HAS E OUT AS GAY A PERSONAL SAY FOR THE OTTAWA CIZEN. HE HAS SERVED AS MAYOR OF CANADA'S PAL CY SCE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M GAY," WATSON BEGS HIS OPEN LETTER, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED SATURDAY. "THERE—I SAID ; OR RATHER WROTE . THOSE TWO WORDS TOOK ME ALMOST FOUR S TO UTTER, BUT AS THEY SAY, 'BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"AS I LOOK BACK OVER MY LIFE, AND HDSIGHT, NOT G OUT SOONER WAS A BIG MISTAKE ON MY PART," HE NTU, LLG THE SAY 40 YEARS THE MAKG. "MY RELUCTANCE HAS NOT ALLOWED ME TO LIVE MY LIFE AS FULL OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE AS MY GAY IENDS WHO WERE BOLR AND BRAVER THAN I EVER WAS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"OVER THE YEARS, I TOLD ONLY TWO (GAY) IENDS THAT I WAS GAY, ALTHOUGH I SPECT MOST OF MY FAY AND IENDS JT ASSUMED I WAS, BUT RPECTED MY PRIVACY AND NEVER BROACHED THE SUBJECT," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WATSON ALSO TAILS GROWG UP "VERY SOCIALLY AWKWARD," BEG LLED "JIM FAIRY" ON THE SCHOOL B AND LATER VELOPG CSH ON ACTORS LIKE ROB LOWE AND BRAD PT. EVEN WHILE ATTENDG HIS LIBERAL LLEGE HE WAS "TOO SHY OR RELUCTANT TO E TO GRIPS WH MY OWN SEXUALY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WAS ELECTED TO OTTAWA CY COUNCIL WHEN I WAS 30, AND FOR MOST OF MY PUBLIC LIFE, MY SEXUALY WAS NOT AN ISSUE," HE WR, POTG TO ONE MEMORABLE NONTATN WH A HOMOPHOBIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M PROUD OF MY TRACK RERD ON LGBTQ ISSU, OM VOTG FAVOUR OF A MOTN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE TO BEG THE FIRST OTTAWA MAYOR TO MARCH THE PRI PARA DURG MY FIRST TERM." IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS NO AARON SCHOCK.ANDREA CARD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGOTTAWA, ON - MARCH 16: MAYOR OF OTTAWA JIM WATSON SPEAKS DURG THE STANLEY CUP HOMEG AS PART OF THE STANLEY CUPS 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATNS ON MARCH 16, 2017 OTTAWA, ONTAR, CANADA. (PHOTO BY ANDREA CARD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I’VE STGGLED OFTEN ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO E OUT," WATSON ADMS. "SWIRLG AROUND MY MD WERE THOUGHTS LIKE HOW MY FAY AND IENDS WOULD REACT. WOULD AFFECT MY RELATNSHIP WH MY NSTUENTS?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE HE SAYS THERE WASN'T REALLY "ONE EUREKA MOMENT," WATSON POTS TO TWO KEY CINTS THAT SPIRED HIM TO SPEAK HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2014 THE MAYOR TWEETED THAT HE WOULD FLY THE PRI FLAG AT CY HALL SOLIDARY WH LGBTQ ATHLET PETG AT THE OLYMPIC GAM SOCHI. SOMEONE TWEETED, "THIS IS A STUPID WASTE OF TIME. YOU’VE LOST MY VOTE." WATSON RPOND, "IF YOU HAVE THAT POT OF VIEW, I REALLY DON’T WANT YOUR VOTE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LATER, A MAN APPROACHED WATSON AND SAID, "I HOPE YOU’RE NOT GOG TO MARCH THAT FAG PARA," REFERRG TO THE UPG PRI PARA OTTAWA. "I’M LOOKG FORWARD TO MARCHG THE PRI PARA," WATSON REPLIED, "AND I PLAN ON DOG SO AGA, SO WHY DON’T YOU JO ME?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WATSON NCLUS HIS SAY WH THIS ADVICE: "DON’T FEEL PRSURED OR SHED TO E OUT, BUT DON’T WA 40 YEARS EHER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
Mayor of one of Canada's biggt ci Ottawa, Jim Watson, has revealed he's been livg the closet as a gay man for 40 years. * gay canadian mayors *
Watson started his piece wh two words “I’m gay”. No LGBTQ clubs or gay-straight allianc. Watson said he was spired to wre the lumn after he raised the pri flag at cy hall durg the 2014 Olympic Gam Rsia to show solidary wh LGBTQ athlet who feared the Rsian ernment’s views on homosexualy.
“Over the years, I told only two (gay) iends that I was gay, although I spect most of my fay and iends jt assumed I was, but rpected my privacy and never broached the subject. In the lumn, Watson wr that his reluctance to e out about his sexualy prived him of livg a life “full of love and adventure” that his openly gay iends got to experience.
The news team for Gay Natn love tips om our rears.
CANADIAN MAYOR JIM WATSON COM OUT AS GAY AFTER 40 YEARS THE CLOSET
Vis the Gay Natn store Now. Day 611:30More women and openly gay lears Canadian polics: are barriers g down?
Meanwhile, Wa MacLchlan, elected Premier of PEI this week, is now Canada's send openly-gay provcial genr and sexual orientatn turned to non-issu polil mpaigns? Premier Wa MacLchlan, this week you beme Canada's send openly gay Premier after Kathleen Wynne. So you were out knockg on doors, but did anyone ever say to you that they wouldn't or uldn't vote for you or your party bee you're gay?
Now, don't always e up to your face, but most of my mpaigns I've known about a whisper mpaign, I've known that there's homophobia lurkg, but really didn't feel like that. I had a ndidate back 2012 make credibly tolerant statements agast gays the electn and that really has, I thk, driven a lot of the public dialogue and discsn and a lot of the legislative chang that happened Alberta the last three years.
MORE WOMEN AND OPENLY GAY LEARS CANADIAN POLICS: ARE BARRIERS G DOWN?
We changed the Val Statistics Act to make easier for transgenr dividuals get their intifitn changed, and we also jt recently passed legislatn that allows for stunts to tablish GSA's [gay-straight allianc] any school if they choose to do so.