After rejecting a proposal to fly a Pride flag – despite lacking a flagpole – Emo, Ontario, has been fined, and its mayor sent to “Human Rights 101” for failing to honour the LGBTQ2 community during Pride Month. Prof. Jonathan Turley details the bizarre story on his blog – here’s an excerpt:
CBC News is reporting that the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has ordered the small town of Emo to pay damages after failing to hoist an “LGBTQ2 rainbow flag” in celebration of Pride Month. One problem is that the town of fewer than 2000 inhabitants does not have a flagpole (though you could presumably “show the flag” in other ways). …
In a decision handed down last week, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario found that Emo, its mayor, and two councillors violated the Ontario Human Rights Code. The tribunal admitted in a later opinion that “the record indicated the Township did not receive many requests for declarations or proclamations or requests for display of a flag.” Indeed, in a single 12-month period, they received only four — two from Borderland Pride.
Emo does not have a central flagpole, other than the Canadian flag over the front door of the Emo Municipal Office. …
The tribunal ruled that Borderland Pride will be awarded $15,000, with $10,000 coming from the township and $5,000 from Emo mayor Harold McQuaker. …
Not only must the town pay the fines, but McQuaker and Emo’s Chief Administrative Officer were ordered to complete an online course called “Human Rights 101” and “provide proof of completion… to Borderland Pride within 30 days” as recompense for their disobedience.
Worth reading in full.
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