The Outgames opened in Montreal Saturday night, and while many famous people made appearances and performances (Martha Wash, Deborah Cox, k.d. lang), one very famous Canadian was conspicuously absent: Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

k.d. lang has been outspoken about the PM's intent to skip the games:

It's a sad statement that the national leader of one of the most progressive countries in the world chooses to support intolerance rather than all-inclusiveness. It's our job to see that as an unfortunate ignorance, rather than as a statement against us," she said. "It's just that he hasn't got there in his heart.

In his place, Federal Public Works Minister Michael Fortier (pictured above left) tried to make a speech, but was booed so loudly he had trouble finishing. No wonder Harper didn't want to attend. Or did he?

Fortier booed during opening ceremony [Globe and Mail]
PM 'supports intolerance' by not attending Outgames, singer says [CBC]