Mayor Colin Ratushniak was invited to Baltic Pride, which will occur in about six weeks. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

municipal politics

La Ronge mayor to travel to Lithuania to spread awareness of LGBT issues

Apr 21, 2022 | 4:56 PM

La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak will be traveling to Lithuania in early June to spread a message of equality and promote human rights.

He was invited by the Office of the Embassy of Canada in Lithuania to speak at Baltic Pride in Vilnius. The event will be held June 2–5 and Ratushniak’s travel expenses will either be covered by the federal government or on his own accord.

“This is a really great opportunity,” he said. “I mean it is incredible we can put La Ronge on an international stage for what our residents and what our councils believe in and fight for.”

In November 2020, Ratushniak became the first openly gay mayor of La Ronge after winning a four-person race with 52 per cent of the vote. He had moved to town less than two years before being elected and he noted it was a surprise considering he was told he might have to hide his sexuality if he wanted to be accepted by the community.

Ratushniak explained his desire to run for La Ronge council came in June 2019 when there was a push for council to raise the Pride Flag. Supporters of the LBGT community crowded council chambers and the decision to raise the flag succeed in a 6-1 vote.

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“I had my eyes open. When I did come to La Ronge there was a lot more allies in our community,” he said. “Also, my eyes were opened up to the number of people who are having to stay closeted in fear of retaliation at all levels, from our youth, even some local leaders have been reaching out lately. It’s amazing to be able to be there for those people and help them through situations they may not feel comfortable with.”

When Ratushniak travels to Lithuania, he’s looking forward to finding out what views are like there, as well provide a source of hope. He’d like to talk with residents on how they can live an authentic life and have conversations with those who don’t believe LGBT people deserve the same rights as everybody else.

Ratushniak told his fellow councillors at a regular council meeting last week about his invitation to Luthuania. He said it was important to show them municipal politics has the ability to overflow to a much grander scale of opportunities.

“I think it is really important to share the successes and also have council and residents understand that small little decisions we make at the council table can have a much larger impact,” he said. “It can ultimately change the reputation of someone like me, three years ago, being told I would have to tone down who I was and maybe go back in the closet or being concerned about who I am as a person. I’m really hopeful I change the views of that.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno