Achi news desk-
Several 2SLGBTQIA+ groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a bid by the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson to the UCP caucus.
Johnson was kicked out of caucus last May after his comments in September 2022 comparing transgender children in schools to having faeces in food became public.
On Wednesday, the Red Deer-South Constituency board sent a letter to Smith saying that Johnson had apologized sufficiently for her comments and asked that she be reinstated to the UCP caucus.
“Member Johnson, in our opinion, has made amends for his comments which came to light during a closely fought election last spring. We believe that the time has come to move on.” this event and welcome Member Johnson to caucus.”
On Saturday, the premier’s office issued the following statement.
“The Premier’s previous comments on this subject stand and no decision has been made to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson to the Caucus.”
The Lacombe Pride Association, along with HOME, RDQCA and Central Alberta Pride, as well as some other queer agencies, said they “have not seen any tangible steps forward to indicate that she has moved past these egregious beliefs.”
Letter from the Red Deer-South constituency office to Premier Smith
In May 2023, Johnson issued an apology for the comments.
“I apologize for the way I discussed these issues in September 2022,” he said. “I have nothing but love and compassion for everyone equally and I am embarrassed that I have caused hurt like this.”
Lacombe Pride board member Jonathan Luscombe said in the letter that after Johnson was elected, vandalism and homophobia had increased in central Alberta, “from the Ponoka United Church pride intersection being vandalized, to the home of a board member of our society which is targeted 12 times with vandalism, theft. and threats in a month’s time.”
The letter called on Johnson to outline concrete steps she will take to remedy the situation, recommending that she take courses from “some of the leading queer organizations in Canada” while also attending local events.
This is a developing story that will be updated throughout the day.
