NDP CAUCUS ROOKIE APOLOGIZES TO LGBT COMMUNITY FOR CONTROVERSIAL INSTAGRAM POST
(Photo: The National Post)
Alberta NDP member Deborah Drever has issued an apology to the LGBT community for her inappropriate and offensive behaviour.
The political rookie has been suspended after a series of tactless posts on social media.
Shortly after becoming elected into Alberta’s New Democratic Party, a photo of Drever posing next to a T-shirt decorated with a marijuana plant, as well as a photo of her pretending to be the victim of a sexual assault for the album cover of a local garage band, graced the Internet.
The most recent of Drever’s social media posts to resurface was one from her Instagram account in which the words “SEXY MOFO” and “ME-OW YUMMY” were scrawled on photos of former Premier Jim Prentice and interim Alberta PC leader Ric McIver. The caption under Drever’s Instragram post was “Gay boyz”.
On Tuesday, Drever turned to social media for a different reason; to issue an apology.
“Regarding the screen capture of the photo that was posted on my Instagram account last year, I want to stress in the strongest possible terms that my comment was never intended to convey an insult to LGBTQI* people. I also want to make it perfectly clear that I know now that my intent doesn’t matter. When it comes to discriminatory language of actions, intent is irrelevant when it causes harm to another person or persons.
“I strongly support equal rights for all Albertans. I understand and support the need for Gay-Straight Alliances in schools and for services in the community to support LGBTQI* youth and adults alike. I have long stood as an ally with LGBTQI* activists in their struggle for true equality and the fact that my comment goes against those deeply-held values causes me deep regret.”
In a statement last week, Premier Notley also decided to issue an apology for her caucus member’s actions.
“I apologize to all Albertans for the homophobic statements contained in this image, which are completely contrary to the views of our party and our future government.”
Premier Notley says she will reassess whether Drever has a future with the NDP next year.
