Topic: George Smitherman

George Smitherman MPP (born 1964) is a Canadian politician who represents the provincial riding of Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is notable for being the first openly gay MPP elected in Ontario, and the first openly gay cabinet minister. On November 8, 2009, Smitherman resigned as Ontario's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Deputy Premier of Ontario in order to run for Mayor of Toronto in the 2010 municipal election.

Smitherman has been active in politics since high school. He worked as an organizer for the Ontario Liberal Party and Premier David Peterson. He was chief of staff to Ontario cabinet minister Hugh O'Neill and senior advisor to Ontario political ministers Herb Gray and David Collenette. He was chief of staff and campaign manager to one-time Mayor of Toronto Barbara Hall. He also ran a private consulting business and co-owned a photofinishing shop in downtown Toronto. He defeated a five year addiction to cocaine and other 'party drugs' before running for political office.

On August 5, 2007, Smitherman married his partner, Christopher Peloso, a manager with Lindt & Sprüngli, near Elliot Lake, Ontario. On September 26, 2009, the Toronto Star reported that Smitherman and his partner had been approved as adoptive parents by the Toronto Children's Aid Society. A close source said that the couple were on a waiting list to adopt a child.