Canadian town fined for refusing to celebrate pride month, fly rainbow flag
A small Canadian town is facing a hefty fine of $10,000 for its refusal to participate in Pride Month activities and fly the LGBTQ2 rainbow flag outside its municipal building. Emo, Ontario, a town with a population of around 1,300 near the Minnesota border, was found to be in violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
The town was also cited for not flying the LGBTQ2 rainbow flag, despite not having an official flag pole. In addition to the fine, town officials were ordered to undergo mandatory human rights training.
The controversy began in 2020 when Borderland Pride, a local advocacy group, requested that Emo declare June as Pride Month. The group also asked the town to fly the LGBTQ2 rainbow flag for a week. However, the request was rejected in a 3-2 vote at a council meeting. Mayor Harold McQuaker argued that there were no flags flown for straight people, leading to accusations of discrimination by the Human Rights Tribunal.
The tribunal found McQuaker’s remarks to be demeaning and disparaging to the LGBTQ2 community, leading to the imposition of fines. Borderland Pride had initially sought a $15,000 fine for the town and $10,000 fines for each council member who voted against the request. Ultimately, the tribunal settled on a $10,000 fine for the town and a $5,000 fine for McQuaker.
In addition to the fines, McQuaker and the town’s chief administrative officer were required to complete an online human rights course and provide proof of completion to Borderland Pride within 30 days.
The case has sparked debate and raised questions about the rights of LGBTQ2 individuals in small communities. It serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and acceptance in today’s society.
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