Steve Kent commits to office for LGBT issues

One of the three men in the running to become the next premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has committed to creating a specific office for gay and transgender rights.

​PC leadership candidate Steve Kent said he supports the creation of a dedicated office to deal with issues specific to people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

"The office could also interact with service providers to ensure that concerns from the LGBT community are being addressed and government is doing everything it can to promote diversity and equality and inclusion in our society," Kent said.

As a motivator for the creation of the office, Kent, in an interview with the The 'Out'port, pointed to the problems some children are facing in school settings.

"Bullying for example, when children are being beaten at school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, that's a problem," Kent said during the interview, posted online on Aug. 29.

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Kent also committed to discussing with other Canadian premiers about what resources are being made available in other provinces, to aid transgender individuals seeking reassignment surgery

Kent said in addition to communicating and engaging with the community, the office would also work to promote other LGBT issues.

Kent is competing with Paul Davis and John Ottenheimer for the PC leadership.

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Delegates will vote at a convention in St. John's on Sept. 13.