A Canadian human rights commissioner said Monday that society must treat those identifying as LGBTQ differently than heterosexuals.
New Brunswick (N.B.) human rights commission chairwoman Nathalie Chiasson claims it is “an establishment tenet that sometimes we must go beyond treating everyone the same.”
As the Canadian Press reported Monday, Chiasson was commenting on the decision by the town of Chipman, N.B to fly a “Straight Pride” flag in the same way as some municipalities — including Chipman — do with a Gay Pride banner. (RELATED: Christian University Caves On Homosexuality)
A Gay Pride flag flies from a vehicle in Chipman, N.B. CTV News screenshot, Oct. 23, 2018.
“If we are to change the narrative about diversity and inclusion, and how we achieve it, we must do so collectively, knowledgeably and respectfully,” Chiasson continued. (RELATED: Trudeau Present, Police Absent, From Toronto Gay Pride Parade)
The straight flag was only up for a day — the town conceded to social media criticism that the banner was deleterious to people who call themselves LGBTQ.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves to the crowd while walking in the Vancouver Pride Parade with his family in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 31, 2016. REUTERS/Ben Nelms
“The raising of a flag apparently in support of all groups in a New Brunswick community had the opposite negative effect,” Chiasson said.
The flag was a project for a local resident, Glenn Bishop. Bishop said the other flag was not meant as an insult to anyone but was an opportunity for heterosexuals to proclaim their own moment of pride.
In her statement, Chiasson noted that heterosexual, white men are not subject to discrimination like other groups in society. Bishop says he disagrees with the decision to take the flag down, telling CTV News, “That’s disgraceful. This is discrimination against straight people.”
He is considering appealing the town’s decision to remove the flag.