Talk:Libby Davies

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[edit] Parliamentary debate?

I tried looking for the debate in the House of Commons (via Edited Hansard available online) where Kenney and Davies have this exchange as noted in the last paragraph. I cannot seem to find it. However, I did find news articles that seem to indicate that this exchange took place outside of the House of Commons ([1][2][3]). If it did not occur in the House, then I don't think it should be called "parliamentary debate". The controversial line was mentioned in a Statements by Members session [4], but that's not the same as debate. Same issue on the Jason Kenney article. ~⌈Markaci⌋ 2005-08-22 T 07:14:33 Z

[edit] How she identifies

From time to time, reference is made to Ms. Davies being the first openly lesbian MP. However, as is stated in the article, Ms. Davies does not identify as a lesbian:

XW: Now, I’ve read that you’re reluctant to take the label of lesbian. Why is that?

DAVIES: Well, first of all, I totally respect everyone’s right to define themselves and I also recognize that other people will define me, and I don’t really have any control over that, so that’s okay. But I don’t feel that I define myself in any particular way. I’m still Libby Davies. My partner’s a woman. [5]

If the way Ms. Davies identifies has changed, I'd like to hear about it, but otherwise we should report how she identifies, or doesn't identify.

A contributor said, if she has a female parner, we can call her a lesbian; but the fact is women who identify as bisexual and queer can also have female partners. Anyway, we should report what she has to say about the issue. She's the one who gets to say so. For now, all we can say is that she is the first out female MP. - Montréalais 16:06, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

Actually, she doesn't have control over that. If most people identify her as a lesbian, then that's what needs to be put in. For lack of a better policy or guideline, I'll point you to Wikipedia:Naming conventions (common names). Ardenn 16:24, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

I see nothing in that page about sexual orientation. In any case, she can hardly be out as a lesbian if she doesn't say that she's a lesbian. - Montréalais 07:21, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

Absolutely not. Sexual orientation is an area where the person's own label trumps any other consideration. Bearcat 17:53, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Socialist?

She's in the "Category:Socialists" right now, and yet there's nothing in the article which confirms it. Having watched her in many interviews over the years, I always got the impression that she, like most members of the NDP, was a Social democrat rather than a socialist. Does anyone have info (preferably a direct quote) that could clear this up? If nothing is forthcoming, I think I'll remove the category. Serpent-A 07:05, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

Personally I don't like categories that use terms with disputed meanings like that. I don't even really like categroies much at all. On the other hand, Davies was pretty involved in the NPI which was unambiguously socialist at the time. Now I suppose one could be a part of an organization that advocated socialism and not be a socialist but it would be a bit of a trick. I also notice that the category does say that it includes some social democrats who are not outright socialists. But that should probably be trimmed from the category rather than used as a basis for inclusion. --JGGardiner 20:57, 18 March 2007 (UTC)