Patrons celebrate on Saturday night at Fort McMurray’s first ever gay pride event by the LGBTQmunity called Pride
Fort McMurray’s first gay pride event on Saturday night saw the “hurtful” burning of two gay pride flags, organizers say.
Almost 100 people were at Bailey’s Pub in Fort McMurray for an LGBTQmunity event called Pride @ The Pub when two rainbow flags went missing.
The flags, which represent the diversity of the LGBT community, would later end up burnt in a nearby parking lot.
“I can’t say why they did it and I can’t say if it was hate fuelled,” said Sheldon Parsons, president of the LGBTQmunity in Fort McMurray. “But it’s hurtful to see something like that.”
Patrons were celebrating the event wearing rainbow sashes, fedoras and singing karaoke. Parsons said most people didn’t even know the incident had occurred.
Based on security camera video viewed by LGBTQmunity vice-president Michael Kenny, around 11 p.m. the theft of one of the flags is visible. The incident occurred in the parking lot outside of the pub. Kenny said that once the burning took place, security guards approached those involved and asked them not to return to the pub. Kenny has since turned the videos over to the RCMP, who are reviewing them.
As someone who has grown up in Fort McMurray, Parsons said that the city has been “moving in the right direction” when it comes to accepting the LGBTQ community.
“I have been watching Fort McMurray change and grow,” Parsons said. “But there are still changes that have to happen within the community.”
At at this time, Kenny said they are viewing the incident as a hate crime, but he believes issues such as these are more about awareness than hate.
This was the first large-scale gay pride event the city. Kenny said the more events they hold, the more the community can get used to their presence. Eventually, Kenny hopes to hold a gay pride parade similar to ones in Edmonton and Calgary.
Kenny reviewed the videos on Sunday after he heard of the incident. He filed a complaint with the RCMP Monday morning and said the videos show clear images of the people involved.
Const. Christina Wilkins of the Wood Buffalo RCMP said they have received the complaint and are currently investigating.
There is hope that this incident can have a positive effect in Fort McMurray, Kenny said.
“I believe it will spark a wider public discussion addressing homophobia in the community.”
Almost 100 people were at Bailey’s Pub in Fort McMurray for an LGBTQmunity event called Pride @ The Pub when two rainbow flags went missing.
The flags, which represent the diversity of the LGBT community, would later end up burnt in a nearby parking lot.
“I can’t say why they did it and I can’t say if it was hate fuelled,” said Sheldon Parsons, president of the LGBTQmunity in Fort McMurray. “But it’s hurtful to see something like that.”
Patrons were celebrating the event wearing rainbow sashes, fedoras and singing karaoke. Parsons said most people didn’t even know the incident had occurred.
Based on security camera video viewed by LGBTQmunity vice-president Michael Kenny, around 11 p.m. the theft of one of the flags is visible. The incident occurred in the parking lot outside of the pub. Kenny said that once the burning took place, security guards approached those involved and asked them not to return to the pub. Kenny has since turned the videos over to the RCMP, who are reviewing them.
As someone who has grown up in Fort McMurray, Parsons said that the city has been “moving in the right direction” when it comes to accepting the LGBTQ community.
“I have been watching Fort McMurray change and grow,” Parsons said. “But there are still changes that have to happen within the community.”
At at this time, Kenny said they are viewing the incident as a hate crime, but he believes issues such as these are more about awareness than hate.
This was the first large-scale gay pride event the city. Kenny said the more events they hold, the more the community can get used to their presence. Eventually, Kenny hopes to hold a gay pride parade similar to ones in Edmonton and Calgary.
Kenny reviewed the videos on Sunday after he heard of the incident. He filed a complaint with the RCMP Monday morning and said the videos show clear images of the people involved.
Const. Christina Wilkins of the Wood Buffalo RCMP said they have received the complaint and are currently investigating.
There is hope that this incident can have a positive effect in Fort McMurray, Kenny said.
“I believe it will spark a wider public discussion addressing homophobia in the community.”
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Rainbow+flags+burned+outside+Fort+McMurray+first+pride+event/8723395/story.html
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