far too long, on too many fronts." He declined to say how many of his adherents had secured Conservative Party nominations, arguing that the media would portray his campaign as the infiltration of the party by "right-wing fanatics." He also stated that his group was non-partisan, and that he was not working as an agent of the Conservative Party. In a 2005 interview with the Hamilton Spectator, Emmanuel described homosexuals as "sexual deviants" and that homosexuality is "a choice," said that he regarded it as "the wrong choice, a bad choice," and further argued that "the state shouldn't sanction wrong choices." He acknowledged that his views would be hurtful to some readers, but argued that this did not make his opinions hateful. During this period, Emmanuel sought to distance himself from statements he had made three years earlier that were critical of Islam. Discussing a 2002 article in which he favourably cited Franklin Graham's description of Islam as an "evil and wicked religion," Emmanuel said, "I know the religion itself isn't that [evil and wicked] but it was a polemical piece ... written in the context of 9/11." He added, "Polemics doesn't define a man. As I get old and more mature, I realize polemics has its place, but you have to be careful." In late 2005, Emmanuel undertook a speaking tour of the United States. He argued that Canada's political establishment was attempting to export a liberal culture to the United States via the United Nations, and encouraged Canadian citizens living in the United States to vote against the Liberal Party in the 2006 federal election. During the election itself, he campaigned for the next parliament to revisit the issue of same-sex marriage. Later in the year, Emmanuel told a conference in Washington, D.C. that Christians were discriminated against in Canada. 2009 Progressive Conservative leadership contest Emmanuel resurfaced in 2009 as campaign manager for Randy Hillier, in the latter's bid to lead the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. During this campaign, Emmanuel and other figures in the Progressive Conservative Party called for the abolition of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. Hillier finished last in a field of four candidates on the first ballot and gave his support to the eventual winner, Tim Hudak. Endorsements Stockwell Day has endorsed Emmanuel, writing "[w]hether promoting friendship between nations or rallying for family and faith, Tristan has worked diligently to promote conservative causes