I’m gay, I was a drug user, pay attention to me!

George Smitherman, Ontario’s health minister, is gay and a former drug user. He is probably lots of other things too, but these are the primary reasons for the Toronto Star’s celebration of him. Today’s installment:

The 42-year-old health minister is telling Ontarians that for five years in the early to mid 1990s he fought and beat an addiction to street stimulants used as “party drugs.”

Fearing the repercussions of his admission, Smitherman did not want to say what illegal drugs he used.

Publicity without responsibility. Smitherman must have studied at the knee of Svend Robinson.

And speaking of responsibility: Smitherman isn’t into it. In one interview, he blamed his drug use on a) his father’s death, b) booze, and c) his grandparents’ gambling habit.

I can’t say I can look back and say this is why drugs became an outlet, (but) when I review the period when they (were) a problem for me (it was) the period that followed the passing of my dad…

But he said alcohol played a factor as a trigger drug…

But both his grandfathers were gamblers and he wonders if that played any genetic part in his substance abuse.

You can’t make this stuff up. And what is his boss’ reaction to Smitherman’s fobbing off responsibility for his illegal actions?:

“McGuinty said he couldn’t be more proud of Smitherman for owning up to his addiction.”