Canada’s Labour Minister and an MP from this province is getting international attention for his passionate speech on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.

St. John’s South MP Seamus O’Regan recently spoke at the at the International Labour Organization Conference, a body of the United Nations, after some nations attempted to use the budget discussion to have 2SLGBTQIA+ rights removed.

The changes failed by only a single vote.

Minister O’Regan says when he heard of what was happening at the conference, he immediately booked a flight to Geneva to address the delegates.

Some member nations at the UN International Labour Conference believe that 2SLGBTQI+ rights are up for debate.

But we will not go back.
We will never go back.

My full statement: https://t.co/gb8Bodf1Rr pic.twitter.com/dOOxjQPFcb

— Seamus O'Regan Jr (@SeamusORegan) June 14, 2023

He says he shared his personal experience with the conference while recognizing same-sex marriage has only been legal in Canada for 20 years. He says he understands it will take some countries longer to get there, but “we are not going back”.

O’Regan says following his address, a delegate who did not speak English approached him with tears in her eyes and a message written for him in Google translate.

The note read “my daughter is a lesbian and I want nothing for her but happiness and your speech gave me such joy”. He says when you see something like that, it reminds you that it is worth it to stick your neck out.