A small community near North Bay, Ontario voted against flying a rainbow flag on City Hall grounds for Pride month in June, saying members of the LGBT+ community were creating a “hate group” and marginalization.
• Read more: Citizens of Alberta city ban Pride flag
The municipal council of East Ferris, a city of fewer than 5,000 residents, including a third of Franco-Ontarians, voted 3 to 2 last month against the rainbow flag, which was recently picked up by Ontario media.
City councilor Terry Kelly, one of the opponents of the idea to raise the pride flag, called the LGBT+ community a “divisive group”, arguing that less than 3% of the Canadian population identify as sexually diverse.
“There is no reason to hoist this flag on municipal property. […] There are several groups that represent more than 3% of the population. They are all Canadians, and are happy with either the Canadian flag or the provincial flag. These are the official flags and they are the official masts,” said Mr. Kelly pleaded. North Bay Nugget.
Mayor Pauline Rochefort, who supported the idea of raising the pride flag, tried to reassure her part. “We believe in inclusion and tolerance, which are values at the heart of our community. There are different opinions on the flag, but I would say East Ferris is a very welcoming community for all citizens,” he argued in an interview with CTV News.
The story is reminiscent of the case of the Alberta town of Westlock, like East Perris, where citizens voted to ban the rainbow flag last February.
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