Trish Kelly, favoured Park Board candidate for Vision Vancouver, withdrew from the municipal election race today in a Vision statement. Her resignation follows a video posted on VanRamblings.com by Raymond Tomlin that shows Kelly speaking frankly about masturbation.

"I hold no shame nor regret for the work I have produced," said Kelly in the statement. The video, which has since been taken down, featured Kelly talking about her own masturbation experiences with a comedic tone, encouraging women to get in touch with their bodies. It was originally produced for a queer-positive network called WayOutWest.tv.

In the July 14 post titled "Another Nail in the Vision Vancouver Coffin," Tomlin asks what the Toronto Star would do if provided the "potentially explosive video." After consulting his readership, Tomlin decides "in the interest of openness and transparency, and in the public interest, The Star would run with the video." The video was provided by an unnamed male correspondent, according to the post.

Kelly said she resigned to prevent the video becoming a distraction. "After 25 years of serving my community, I put my name forward as a Park Board nominee to move my life as a community activist fighting for social justice issues, to claiming a seat at the decision-making table," she said.

"Unfortunately, my work in theatre and as a sex-positive activist is being sensationalized -- and will clearly continue to be -- distracting from my efforts in the community and in the election campaign."