Borderland Pride says Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker, Councillor Harrold Boven, and Councillor Warren Toles have once again declined to show leadership on diversity and inclusion.
Emo Council denied a request Tuesday night to reconsider a previous decision to not declare June as Pride Month.
Referring to Roberts Rules of Order, none of those who rejected the initial motion wished to bring it back to the floor.
The issue came up again after Borderland Pride presented a 1,739 signature petition to Council.
Co-chair Doug Judson says he’s profoundly disappointed that certain individuals failed to live up to their community and their legal obligations to equity-seeking groups like LGBTQ2 people.
Judson adds “We are not second-class citizens and Borderland Pride will pursue all options to assert and affirm the legal entitlement of LGBTQ2 people to be treated without discrimination in small northern communities like this one.”
He says they’ve spoken with an eminent Canadian human rights lawyer to determine next steps.
Mayor Harold McQuaker stated at the meeting “I don’t think anybody is being discriminated against here. I just feel that the majority rules and that’s the way it is.”
Councillor Lincoln Dunn says refusing to support Pride Month, Council is legitimizing the bigoted homophobes in the community.
(With files from Randy Thoms. Acadia News Fort Frances)
