Great Debate: Flag Flying Flap in Truro

Unlike two neighbouring communities, Truro, Nova Scotia will not be flying the rainbow flag to support gay pride celebrations. Town council voted 6 to 1 against the request, stating it came in too late for debate. The mayor, Bill Mills, has been quoted as saying that he cannot support the request because he is a Christian and the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality. According to one news story, Mills said, "God says I'm not in favour of that and I have to look at it and say, I guess I'm not either." He also allegedly said that he doesn't know what the gay community is fighting for since they already have equal opportunities as well as work and pension benefits, and that raising the rainbow flag might lead to requests from other people such as pedophiles.


There is something to be said for living up to one's beliefs, but when do one person's beliefs trump the rights of someone else? Put it down to those six formative years I spent living in the United States if you must, but I am a big fan of the separation of church and state. While I think the Truro town council has every right to reject a request to fly the rainbow flag, they do not have the right to refuse it on religious grounds.


I know that many Christians in North America feel embattled. For several decades, they have heard populist Christian leaders rail on against the evil axis of hedonistic Hollywood liberals, hate-filled Muslim fundamentalists, radical environmentalist lunatics, and sleazy peddlars of an aggressive "gay agenda". They feel the effects of globalization and robber baron capitalism on job security and standards of living, and they seek to find an answer. They feel as if the world they live in is no longer their world, and some of them are aggressively defending what they think of as their communities' "real culture". I don't agree with this interpretation, but I understand what they are feeling.


The reality, however, is that neither Truro nor Canada are theocracies. Community leaders are entitled to their beliefs, but they are not entitled to dictate choices that are based solely on their religious beliefs. Imagine how the mayor of Truro would feel if a Jewish mayor banned the sale of pork in Truro because it is forbidden in her religion, or if a Muslim mayor declared that no woman is permitted to go out on the streets without adequately covering her face because that is part of his religious beliefs. What is the likelihood that Mr. Mills would meekly accept the ruling and turn the other cheek?


Perhaps the group requesting the flag raising were too late to have their application heard. If that is the case, fine. If the normal policy of Truro town council is to vote against requests that arrive too late, be consistent and refuse this request. However, if special consideration has been given to other groups, there had better be a good reason for denying this request -- a better reason than what St. Paul says in the book of Romans. Until such time as Canada is a theocracy, politicians must realize that if they cannot justify a decision without justifying it by quoting their version of Holy Scriptures, then they had better rethink their decisions.

One more thing:


Next year, the people organizing gay pride activities in Truro should show the Truro town council the consideration that other groups do, and make their request in time. After all, equal treatment means following the same rules as everyone else. In the meantime, the griot will fly the flag for the gays and lesbians of Truro.