A rchive Date
[ 04-08-2002 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/steward.html
B.C. town finds there are no rights like gay rights
By HARTLEY STEWARD -- Toronto Sun
August 4, 2002
I seldom write about gay and homosexual issues because the temper of the resulting mail, both "snail" and "e," is almost always disturbing. It is often crass and abusive. Worse, its authors invariably refuse to engage in any level of debate.
They are happy to characterize those who disagree with them as bigots, or worse, and leave it at that.
Too bad, really, because some of the issues are worth debate and so much that the homosexual community thinks of as a given, is not, by any stretch of the imagination, accepted without question by many thoughtful people in the straight community.
Nor should it be.
The news reports that the little forestry town of Terrace, in the B.C. interior north of Vancouver, has been forced by a human rights tribunal to proclaim and advertise a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Day is surely one of those issues.
Terrace town council had considered a request in 2000 by the Rainbow B.C. Coalition and the Rainbow Committee of Terrace to declare a gay pride day for the town and rejected it.
It also filed the same request from a local bisexual businesswoman, Maureen Bostock, in effect rejecting that one, too.
Bostock had supported her request with the argument that the proclamation would have helped quell stereotypes, increase tolerance and help advance a visible presence for the gay and lesbian community.
Ana Mohammed, a human rights tribunal member, ruled that the rejections violated B.C.'s human rights code.
The town council cannot, in fact, reject the request that it declare a gay pride day.
Mohammed wrote that council's decision was harmful "to positive, respectful relations between people of all sexual identities and desires in Terrace and beyond and to diminish the effectiveness of any other initiatives Terrace might take to increase tolerance and reduce hatred in the community."
Mohammed found that the request was refused by council because some councillors disapproved of what they perceived to be an "agenda" or "lifestyle" of members of the complainant, finding it was "morally and socially unacceptable."
The mayor of Terrace, lawyer Jack Talstra, who, along with his council probably understands much better than Mohammed his community, its values and what is in the best interests of maintaining social harmony and tolerance, is nonetheless not likely to tangle with a human rights tribunal.
Indeed, he sounded like a beaten man when he responded publicly to the tribunal's ruling.
"We made a decision based on what we thought was reasonable and proper and in the best interests of our community. Now we have to deal with it again."
He indicated he and his council would comply with the ruling and would, indeed, declare for his town of 13,000 a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Day.
The town has two weeks to pick a date.
If it cannot decide, Mohammed gets to pick one.
The fact is, there are many legitimate arguments, all of them free of bigotry, against the decision to declare a gay pride day in a town like Terrace.
Forcing a gay pride day on the town in this way, contrary to the wishes of its elected officials, may do the exact opposite of what is desired, promoting disharmony rather than understanding.
The problem is, in these days of political correctness, such arguments are easily shouted down by claims of bigotry and the arbitrary assignment of base motives.
Surely the question of whether an unelected provincial tribunal should be able to dictate to an elected town council is worth some debate.
It won't even be on the radar screen, of course.
No one today wants to take on a human rights tribunal with the mindset of Mohammed's.
In the world of the politically correct, the legitimacy of one's argument or concerns is no defence.
If Mayor Talstra seems to be caving quickly, it is likely a wise strategy.
He will likely save his little town from being characterized as the redneck capital of British Columbia.
Steward appears Tuesdays and Sundays. E-mail: hartleysteward@canoemail.com
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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