Vision Vancouver candidate Trish Kelly announced Thursday that she is withdrawing from the race to win a seat on park board because her work as a "sex-positive activist" is being sensationalized and will be a distraction during the campaign.
A years-old theatrical video in which Kelly talked about masturbation was circulating on social media.
Kelly and Vision issued this statement Thursday:
We regret to announce the withdrawal of Trish Kelly as a Park Board candidate for Vision Vancouver in the upcoming election.
“After 25 years of serving my community, I put my name forward as a Park Board nominee to move my life as a community activist fighting for social justice issues, to claiming a seat at the decision-making table. Unfortunately, my work in theatre and as a sex-positive activist is being sensationalized – and will clearly continue to be – distracting from my efforts in the community and in the election campaign,” said Trish Kelly.
Kelly ran a strong nomination campaign, engaging new communities and first time voters in the political process, in an effort to raise awareness of issues facing Vancouver.
“We commend Trish Kelly for the campaign she ran and the people she involved,” stated Maria Dobrinskaya, Co-Chair of Vision Vancouver. “Trish was upfront about her feminist body of work, and we honour her willingness to put the significant issues that we face as a city ahead of her personal and professional ambitions as a candidate.”
“I have never hidden from this work. I hold no shame nor regret for the work I have produced,” continued Kelly. “I have dedicated, and will continue to dedicate, much of my life to contributing to my community, to having difficult conversations, and to making myself vulnerable in order to make space for others.”
“Trish and the communities she represents will continue to be valued members of Vision Vancouver and we will work to ensure they are engaged moving forward,” concluded Paul Nixey, Co-Chair of Vision Vancouver.
Kelly, a natural food company employee and self-described LGBTQ community member of Metis and Ukrainian descent, earned the most votes in Vision's recent nomination vote. Vision hasn't said whether runner-up Graham Anderson at the party's nomination meeting will now be appointed as a candidate, or if a run-off will be held to find a replacement for Kelly.
