LOCAL GAY, LESBIAN, HEMP ACTIVISTS WON'T VOTE UA

A Reform Party By A New Name.

That's what Sherry McKibben, an openly gay former city councillor, saw
yesterday after United Alternative delegates killed a resolution allowing a
Parliamentary free vote on extending benefits to same-sex couples.

"They're continuing to show their true colours," said McKibben, now
executive director of HIV Edmonton. "It pleases me that the UA has shown
itself for what it is: a replay of bigotry."

McKibben doubts that the new Reform incarnation will win seats east of
Manitoba.

"They're old white guys and it's that kind of bigotry that always gets them
into trouble," she said.

Julie Lloyd, spokesman for the gay lobby EqualAlberta, also gave the UA
decision a thumbs-down.

"It doesn't surprise me - it's part of their roots," said Lloyd. "I won't be
rooting for them."

And the delegates' tough stance against marijuana means they've lost the
vote of city pot advocate Benjamin Currie.

"I won't give them a second look now," said Currie, manager of True North
Hemp at 10760 82 Ave.

Voting to decriminalize pot would have brought Manning's party "higher in my
consideration," said Currie. "We need a very public and open examination of
whether it's wrong to throw people in jail for crimes that aren't hurting
anybody and wouldn't injure anybody."