‘Pride’ flag refusal lands Canadian town with $15k bill

A small town and its mayor must pay out CA$15,000 for refusing to celebrate ‘Pride’ month, an Ontario tribunal has ruled.

In 2020, LGBT activist group Borderland Pride accused Emo town council of discrimination after it voted against displaying a multicoloured ‘LGBTQ2′ flag for one week during June.

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has now ordered The Corporation of the Township of Emo and Mayor Harold McQuaker to pay compensation to the group “for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect”. Town officials have also been ordered to attend ‘equality’ training.

LGBT agenda

Ahead of the tribunal, Borderland Pride offered to drop proceedings if the Mayor and Council agreed to a published apology, financial compensation, diversity training, and “adopt Pride proclamations in the future”.

As part of the deal, the activist group said it would donate some of the compensation to Emo Public Library “on the condition that it host a drag story time event, free to all to attend, on a date of our choosing this year”.

Before the end of the year, the Council would also have to provide facilities for a “charitable drag event”.

if anybody needs training it’s the LGBTQ2+ to quit pushing their weight around and make demands that people can’t live with

Signed by group Director and litigator Douglas W. Judson, the open letter accused Councillors who voted against celebrating Pride month of “bigotry and hate” and branded them ‘transphobes’.

‘Pride’ demands

Responding to the tribunal ruling, Judson claimed: “Generally this is a non-controversial thing. But it’s an important signal in a small community.”

Mayor McQuaker, who is refusing to pay his $5,000 share of the fine and attend training, said:  “I did not do anything wrong, if anybody needs training it’s the LGBTQ2+ to quit pushing their weight around and make demands that people can’t live with.”

It has been reported that Emo Town Hall does not have a flagpole.