Gay Pride in Regina

by Cecilia Forsyth, Vice-President, Saskatchewan Chapter

Gay pride celebrations have become common place in some Canadian cities. However, since 1990, the Mayor of Regina, the queen city of Saskatchewan, has declined to issue a municipal proclamation declaring Gay and Lesbian Pride Week. This is due to the fact that the city's proclamation bylaw was amended in July, 1990, to give the Mayor sole discretion to approve a city proclamation, providing it does not "concern any sexual, religious or politically sensitive subject". As a result, the Mayor turned down requests to proclaim Gay Pride Week as he felt it was a "politically sensitive subject".

However, in July, Regina's City Council was advised by its City Solicitor that the proclamation bylaw was in conflict with The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, which had been amended in 1993 to include sexual orientation as a protective status. As a result, a proposed amendment, which would allow the Mayor to declare Gay and Lesbian Pride Week, was scheduled for a vote on August 24, 1998. The proposal would delete sexual from the list of prohibited subjects not suitable for city proclamation. It was fully expected that this amendment would pass. Fortunately, however, at the August meeting, a prominent Regina businessman, Mr. Fred Hill, asked Council to delay its vote for a month to allow his lawyer to study the proposal.

At this point, the Saskatchewan REAL Women Chapter decided we had to get involved. Offering our support to Mr. Hill, we contacted our Regina members and others to join the effort. To our surprise, we discovered, when it comes to publicly addressing the homosexual issue, even our own supporters are intimidated into silence.

In the end, however, Regina City Council received many submissions on the topic. As expected, two homosexual groups supported the bylaw change. One individual favoured wide-open proclamations with no restrictions. The good news is that ten submissions spoke against the proposed bylaw. At the Council meeting on September 21st, oral presentations were made by three evangelical ministers, the Regina Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, the Islamic Association of Regina, two individuals, Mr. Hill's Lawyer, Robert Richards, plus our Saskatchewan REAL Women Chapter.

Speaking on behalf of our Regina members, we stated:

... that the existing bylaw was good policy as it represented a position of neutrality on the specified controversial subjects. In other words, the City does not nor should not, condone or condemn sexual, religious or politically sensitive issues.

Asking Council to defeat the proposed bylaw because of its divisiveness and inconsistencies, we further stated:

1. A city proclamation is not a form of public service; it is simply a gratuitous recognition of a cause or event, and as such, it does not fall under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.

2. A strong argument could be made that the sexual orientation issue intrudes into the areas of religious and political sensitivity.

3. The purpose of a proclamation is to give publicity, and that a city proclamation approving Gay and Lesbian Pride Week would, in effect, indicate social and public support for the homosexual lifestyle.

4. Individuals, including homosexuals, have the right to choose their own lifestyle, but that does not require society to sanction and support those choices.

5. The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code includes religion as well as sexual orientation as a protected status. We questioned WHY religion would remain a prohibited subject under the proposed amendment, while sexual subjects would be dropped from the list.

The submission on behalf of Mr. Fred Hill presented a legal analysis outlining the validity of the current bylaw. In conclusion, Mr. Hill stated:

... that the Mayor should not lend the weight of his office to matters about which there is no community consensus. ...

... that the Mayor should strive to maintain civic harmony

... that the city should maintain its existing bylaw or alternatively, it should issue no proclamations or redefine the scope for proclamations.

Following a lengthy discussion, Council defeated the proposed bylaw and instructed the City Solicitor to prepare an amending bylaw which would provide for the repeal of the current bylaw. In other words, there will be no city proclamations. Council will vote on this new proposal on October 5, 1998.

Thanks to the courage and leadership of one man, Fred Hill, the Regina City Council did not cave in to the demands of a special interest group. Instead, it appears the Council will adopt a position that will respect the beliefs and convictions of all the citizens of the city. This example of "good men and women" speaking out should strengthen the resolve to continue to be a public voice for traditional values in our Canadian society. We never know when our voice may be the pivotal factor in determining the outcome of a controversial issue.

On October 5^th, Regina City Council defeated the bylaw proposal for no proclamations. The Mayor, Doug Archer, broke the tie vote to defeat the amendment. Council, then, passed a new proposal to approve all requests for proclamations providing they do not promote hate or a commercial business.

Unfortunately, our best effort was not enough. In the end, Council gave in to the homosexual cries of discrimination and, it seems, to a fear of the Human Rights Commission.

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