Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey said a recent decision not to fly the Pride flag at town hall, or participate in a Pride-themed community poster initiative, is more about establishing fair policy than taking shots at the LGBTQ+ community.
Speaking at a July 23 Dysart council meeting, Fearrey took exception to an invitation from the Haliburton BIA to take part in a ‘Show Your Pride’ decorating contest Aug. 1 to 9. The contest was organized by Minden Pride in advance of its upcoming Pride Week celebration Aug. 19 to 25.
Allan Guinan, Minden Pride chair, said the contest is designed to generate hype for this month’s festivities and help bring the community together. He said numerous organizations and businesses across the County would be participating, including some Highland Street merchants.
Fearrey said he had no problem supporting Minden Pride or the LGBTQ+ community but felt decorating a public space was a bridge too far.
“Town hall is for everybody. We don’t need to decorate the office. It’s an historic building. Why would we want to decorate it? We have to draw the line somewhere,” Fearrey told The Highlander following the meeting.
The mayor said he wanted to see Dysart establish a policy to cover these kinds of requests, which he also wants to extend to flag flying. He proposed a one-day limit for promotion on municipal property.
Speaking at the meeting, Fearrey said, “I don’t want flags up for weeks at the landfills, arena, or anywhere else (the township owns). You can have your day like anyone else, that’s just my opinion.
“It’s not going against what’s going on… in terms of flags, we run the flag up the pole for Remembrance Day, which is the people that made this country. I don’t think we should have any more than one day for any other flags. That’s not necessary,” Fearrey added. “What happens if we get a bunch of other requests from other special interest groups? What if the Palestinians came out to the community and said, ‘we want to fly a flag and have a special day’.”
Fearrey likened the situation to the recent controversy over different groups using Head Lake Park to host community events. The township implemented a new bylaw earlier this summer mandating organizers of any for-profit or revenue-generating event pay a fee to rent space in the park.
Coun. Pat Casey agreed a consistent policy is needed, saying he didn’t believe any group should be allowed to display prominent promotional materials on municipal property for weeks on end. “I have no bias one way or another… but it’s public space. This is something we’ll have to chat about, because how do you qualify who can fly the flag up a pole,” Casey said. Fearrey said he hoped to discuss a new bylaw at Dysart’s next meeting Aug. 27,
Minden Pride responds
Guinan expressed confusion and disappointment over the discussion, and said he was upset by what he perceived as Fearrey’s comparison between the Pride and Palestinian flags.
The Palestine flag is being used by people protesting the country’s conflict with Israel over the Gaza Strip, which dates back to the 19th century.
“I don’t believe there was a request for the council to decorate and there certainly was not a request for the council to raise the Pride flag,” Guinan said. “It was disappointing to hear terms like ‘special interest groups’… being compared to a group of Palestine supporters, I found that a ittle offensive.”
Brandon Nimigon, chair of the Haliburton BIA, said they received a request from Minden Pride last month to promote the poster contest, which it emailed out to members. Since the township is a member, it received the email.
Guinan confirmed the Pride flag will be erected at Minden Hills township office Aug. 19. He said Minden has a long history of supporting Minden Pride.
“Nine years ago, when we started to mobilize… Minden embraced us,” Guinan said, noting the group first approached Dysart about flying a flag, but were turned down. “That’s why we’re called Minden Pride, because they supported us when [Dysart] didn’t.”
