Wynne wins prestigious LGBT leadership award

Helen Kennedy —

Egale Canada Human Rights Trust (ECHRT) is pleased to announce that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has been selected as the 2013 LGBT Leadership Award recipient. The award is presented annually to those Canadians whose leadership has advanced lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) human rights both at home and abroad. Kathleen Wynne was sworn in as Ontario’s 25th Premier on February 11, 2013, becoming the province’s first female Premier, and the first Premier in Canada to be openly gay.

Prior to being sworn in as Premier, Wynne served as Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister of Transportation and Minister of Education. She has also served as a Public School Trustee in Toronto. As Minister of Education, Wynne led the government’s efforts to reduce class sizes, implement full-day kindergarten and provide more opportunities for high school students to reach their full potential.Wynne-FI

Premier Wynne stands as a role model for LGBT youth across the country. Her significant accomplishments in public service, while living proudly and openly as a member of the LGBT community, are an inspiration to the next generation of community leaders. Her continued work with the LGBT community is an invaluable asset in ensuring that every child within Ontario has a safe place to learn and grow. For this leadership, ECHRT has chosen to recognize her as the 2013 LGBT Leadership Award recipient.

Premier Wynne will accept the award on Friday, September 27, 2013 at Egale’s 5th Annual Gala, Queerversaries, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto. CUPE Ontario and CUPE 4400, the lead sponsors for the evening, will present the award. All proceeds from the event will support Egale Canada Human Rights Trust in its goal of combatting homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination so that every person can achieve their full potential, unencumbered by hatred and bias.