Near the end of question period Tuesday, NDP MP Randall Garrison — the party’s spokesperson for LGBT issues — stood up in the House of Commons and asked the government to stand in a round of applause for a group of students in the visitor’s gallery for the third annual Rainbow Day on Parliament Hill.

Eight high schoolers, who each identify themselves and their gender and sexuality in their own way, were sitting above the government benches, looking down as question period unfolded. They beamed as Garrison — one of a handful of out MPs from the official Opposition — gave them a nod of recognition.

Rainbow Day on the Hill is the brainchild of the NDP’s Dany Morin, in collaboration with anti-discrimination organization Jer’s Vision. The MP for Chicoutimi-Le Fjord took inspiration from McGill’s Women in House program, which brings female university students to Ottawa for a couple of days of MP shadowing and talks and events. Morin thought having a similar program, for LGBTQ youth, would be a worthwhile effort to try and help students understand that being open about their sexuality isn’t necessarily a hindrance to success in politics.

“You see the next generation of leaders in waiting” in these students, Morin said earlier Tuesday.

The students – mostly from the Ottawa area – and MPs had gathered for lunch after a morning of job shadowing, with the kids heading off to a committee or meeting with some lobby group or another with their respective members of parliament.

“They had a lot of questions,” Morin said. “They’re unsure about how their sexual orientation might impact their political career eventually. We need to show LGBT youth positive role models.”

And these role models, at least this year, include Morin, Garrison, Libby Davies, Craig Scott and Phil Toone from the NDP, as well as the Liberal’s Scott Brison. Morin said that the day, hopefully, could also give confidence to any member of Parliament who isn’t out that it’s possible to be honest in public about their sexuality, and get re-elected and be respected in their communities.

As the group gathered in a bright room on Queen street for lunch, with windows spanning the walls and a view of the top of Centre Block, in downtown Ottawa, they mingled, chatted about their mornings, and laughed together. Set up on a table was a large handmade quilt signed with positive messages by almost 7,000 individuals, including Opposition leader Thomas Mulcair, brought to the nation’s capital by anti-bullying activist Krystal Kayne.

“When it was launched three years ago, it started small,” Morin continued. “The second year we added more kids and more MPs participated. This year we made it even bigger with Krystal coming from Manitoba. When we talk about bullying and LGBT youth, there’s a clear link because LGBT youth are four times more likely to be… bullied.”

Ottawa’s Zach Ward spend the morning with Morin – they went to health committee and visited Morin’s office in Confederation building.

Ward, who mentioned he’s watched question period a few times, said he was a bit surprised at how factual and level-headed the committee meeting seemed to be.

“I was expecting the committee to turn out like the House of Commons… because they were disagreeing about a lot of stuff,” he said. “But it was a lot more cordial.”

He noted, though, that many of the MPs at the table were white, and men.

“I think it is a problem. We’re on our way there, and have a bit of representation, but we’re still lacking in a huge way,” he said.

“I don’t think we have a trans MP right now,” he added. “It’s unfortunate that we don’t have that representation there, especially when so many issues facing trans people today are going through Parliament, like (Randall Garrison’s) transgender bill, but there’s not a single trans MP in Parliament.”

Other students later noted how real the MPs were — so unlike what they see on television or in the public sphere, or when students visit the Hill for a tour in Grade 10 civics class and an MP comes and says a couple of words.

Tuesday, the MPs were just people — relatable role models — who take a seat in the House of Commons on a daily basis to try and do good work for their constituents.

“Mr. Speaker,” Garrison said in the House Tuesday afternoon, “my question is about government support for diversity.”

“Today, MPs on this side of the House welcome Jer’s Vision and a group of LGBTQ youth to Rainbow Day on the Hill. This day represents an opportunity to start breaking down the barriers that prevent LGBTQ youth from participating in politics. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for us to celebrate diversity on the Hill.”

“Let us show that we all value inclusiveness in this House, and that we can unite despite our partisan differences,” he said. “Will the government now join us in a round of applause in appreciation of all those who participated in Rainbow Day on the Hill this year?”

The Conservative side, somewhat flummoxed at a question not directed at a specific cabinet member, gave a smattering of applause, with not quite half of the MPs standing up to clap. Those students sitting in the public viewing gallery to the right of the Speaker, in full view of the opposition parties, got a chance to see a handful of MPs who’ve faced their own hurdles getting to the Hill stand up for them in the House of Commons.