It’s been said that politics is a blood sport like few others.
In Morgane Oger’s case, that belief was seemingly taken to another playing field in recent months.
The NDP candidate's attempt to become the first transgender MLA in B.C. history was repeatedly dogged by smear campaigns and openly bigoted behaviour such that hate-filled pamphlets were distributed in her riding of Vancouver-False Creek.
“I’ve been the target of hateful and bitter attacks in the past — having rumours spread around about who I am that are completely unfounded is not something new to me,” Oger said. “I did have the luxury of having had this happen to me before and therefore knowing how this plays out.”
Oger was the first candidate to identify as transgender and three others — two Greens and a Liberal — later followed suit.
The pamphlets in question were distributed throughout the West End in late April, just weeks before the May 9 election. They contained verses from the Bible and denounced homosexuality and those who identify as transgender. Outside of that incident, Oger said she was targeted by other groups as well. She leaned on volunteers, friends and those in the field of resilience training to help maintain her focus.
“Even though that this morally reprehensible, it didn’t wound me,” she said. “It did take away focus but it added determination.”
Liberal Sam Sullivan won Vancouver-False Creek by 560 votes but Oger, who spoke to the Courier less than 48 hours after the election, hasn't officially conceded. She's waiting for absentee votes to be tabulated later this month. The B.C. NDP has officially filed for a recount in three ridings, including Vancouver-False Creek.
That she came within 560 votes of defeating a former Vancouver mayor and incumbent candidate with name recognition is a point of pride for Oger. Her campaign pillars included creating more affordable housing, overhauling the public education funding model and bolstering the small business sector.
Currently on leave from her post as Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) chair, Oger said she’ll wait until after absentee ballots are counted to return to that post.
Above and beyond that, Oger will pursue politics in the future, though she’s unsure at which level.
“I’m fluent in English in French, which as [federal NDP leader] Tom Mulcair put it, that’s an advantage,” she said. “It’s much too early to predict what I’ll be doing. But it’s fair to say that if the right opportunity presents itself, and we are able to present a case that works, I’m very interested in another shot at representing the people of Vancouver.”
@JohnKurucz
