Svend Robinson

The Honourable Svend Johannes Robinson (born March 4, 1952) is a Canadian politician and prominent activist for gay rights.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of Danish descent, Robinson's father opposed the Vietnam War and brought his family to live in Canada. Svend obtained a law degree from the University of British Columbia. In 1972 he married his high school girlfriend but the marriage ended after he told her about his affair with a man.

Robinson was the New Democratic Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby—Douglas, a riding in Burnaby, the third largest city in British Columbia and a suburb of Vancouver.

As the longest-serving British Columbia MP in his time, in office from 1979 to 2004, Svend Robinson is notable for having been the first MP to come out as a homosexual, in spring 1988. Although faced with homophobia from some members of the House of Commons, over the years he has been followed by other gay and lesbian politicians in Parliament: Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard, fellow New Democrats Libby Davies and Bill Siksay, and Liberal MPs Scott Brison and Mario Silva, as well as senators Laurier LaPierre and Nancy Ruth.

Robinson ran to succeed Audrey McLaughlin at the 1995 NDP leadership convention, but withdrew in favour of Alexa McDonough after the first ballot despite the fact that he had received the most votes. Robinson realised that he could not defeat McDonough on the second ballot since most of the votes cast by supporters of third place finisher Lorne Nystrom would have gone to her.

Robinson is a self-described socialist, and is commonly regarded as being one of the most left wing figures in Canadian politics. He is best known for his dislike of American foreign policy, especially towards Cuba, and his distrust of corporations. He was the NDP's foreign policy critic until 2001, when he was forced to resign after making a controversial visit to Yasser Arafat in Israel. Robinson has also been extremely critical of the Chinese government for its treatment of political dissidents, and for its policies in Tibet.

Robinson is also a committed activist. He was involved in the First Nations aboriginal land claims standoff at 100 Mile House; fighting for the right of Sue Rodriguez to receive assisted suicide; the anti-logging protests at Clayoquot Sound; and the protests against the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas during the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April 2001.

He was in his time one of the NDP's most popular MPs, particularly popular in his own riding due to the above-average level of activity of his community offices. Although controversial, he was (and continues to be) a widely respected and loved figure in Canadian progressive and activist circles. However, his critics see him as self-righteous and too far to the left. Some have also accused him of being biased against Israel, and in 2002 there were even some suggestions that his views on Middle Eastern politics were anti-Semitic. It should be noted that no public figure in Canada has made such an accusation openly, and that Robinson has vociferously denied allegations of this sort. [1] (http://www.jewishbulletin.ca/archives/June02/archives02Jun21-06.html)

Robinson was involved in the New Politics Initiative and the NDP's renewal process, although he remained committed to the party after the NPI's near miss at the 2001 general convention in Winnipeg.

On April 15, 2004, Robinson admitted to the theft of a piece of jewelry valued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at $Cdn 21,500. He claimed the theft was stress-related. He announced that he was going on a medical leave of absence and was stepping aside as a nominated candidate in the 2004 federal election. He turned himself in to police on April 14, and was formally charged with one count of theft over $5,000 on June 21. On August 6, he pled guilty, and was given a conditional discharge. He was sentenced to a year's probation and 100 hours of community service, but will not have a criminal record, a sentence the Crown described as "appropriate." [2] (http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/08/06/svend_plea040806.html)

Robinson's long-time assistant Bill Siksay was nominated in his place as NDP candidate for Burnaby-Douglas; Siksay won the riding in the federal election in June 2004.

He is currently employed by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees Union as an arbitrator and advocate. Robinson is rumoured to be considering attempting a political comeback by running in the next federal election against Liberal MP Hedy Fry in the riding of Vancouver Centre. While the riding has not had an NDP or CCF MP since 1949, it houses a large gay community making it potentially friendly to a Robinson candidacy.

External links

• Official Website (http://www.svendrobinson.ca)