在第一届世界同性恋运动会 Out Games 的开幕式上,Celine 通过视频发言声援加拿大的同志维权运动,抗议加拿大政府企图通过废除同性恋婚姻的议案。
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Govt booed as Canada's Out Games open
Tens of thousands booed as a conservative government minister took the podium at the opening of the inaugural Out Games in Montreal, Canada, yesterday. They were reacting to the proposed roll back of gay marriage and the refusal of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to attend the Games, instead sending Public Works Minister Michael Fortier, in his place. The crowd of over 40,000, who had packed into Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, were beseeched by organisers to stop booing the government’s representative, so the ceremony could continue.
Canada’s LGBT community are upset at the efforts by Harper’s conservative government to overturn the same-sex marriage legislation, introduced last year by the left-leaning Liberal party, while they were in power. Lesbian singer k. d. lang, who performed at the ceremony, has recently said Harper’s decision not to accept the invitation to attend showed that he had chosen to “support intolerance.”
The opposition New Democratic Party has slammed the Canadian government for holding up visas for people attending the Games. After an earlier outcry the government finally approved visas for all but those from the African nation of Cameroon. It is a setback for Cameroon, a country where homosexuality is a criminal offence and many gays are refused employment. Canadian law requires the visa applicant to be employed in his or her home country to qualify for entry as a tourist.
Representatives of the main opposition parties, Bloc Quebecois and the Liberal Party were welcomed with cheers onto the podium.
k. d. lang headlined the opening ceremony, which featured Cirque du Soleil performances, and local singer Celine Dion lent her support by way of a video message.
Lesbian tennis great Martina Navratilova and Canadian Olympian Mark Tewksbury presented a declaration of human rights that was passed on Friday at the International Conference on LGBT rights.
The Montreal Declaration says LGBT must be recognised as equals throughout the world, and LGBT rights must form part of a greater quest for a global recognition of fundamental human rights.
The inaugural Out Games run until August 5. Over 12,000 participants from over 100 countries will compete in 35 sports and games, and six cultural events. Dozens of New Zealanders are competing in the Games, many arriving directly from the 7th Gay Games, which closed in Chicago last week