With a packed gallery, Township of Perth South Council voted to retain its flag flying policy on Tuesday night, allowing organizations to fly flags on the municipality’s community pole for a maximum of one week.
The municipality flew the Pride flag for one week of Pride month and then took it down.
AJ Adams, president of Stratford-Perth Pride, attended the meeting with other members of the organization.
He told StratfordToday that although the review was officially for the whole flag flying policy, the Pride flag took centre stage.
"The conversation was very focused on the Pride flag specifically, and not just changes to the flag policy as a whole," he explained. "The conversation was quite lively. There were some concerning remarks from Coun. (Mark) Bell that were very transphobic ... nothing new from what Stratford-Perth Pride has heard."
Coun. Bell, who initially raised the review at the meeting on June 6, advocated for Perth South to be nonpartisan and inclusionary when it comes to flying flags in general.
Bell stated last night his four main concerns as follows:
“Number one, no child should be able to have top or bottom surgery as a preteen or take hormone or puberty blockers at that age. Number two, I do not think biological males should be competing in girls’ or women’s sports. Number three, I do not think biological males should be allowed into girls’ washrooms at school or in public bathrooms. Number four, I do not believe drag queens should be telling stories to four, five, and six-year-old children in public spaces.”
His objective, later stated, was to have clarification on the policy and clarification of what the Pride flag represents.
In regards to the Pride flag specifically, he expressed that his words in the past have been misconstrued.
“I do not support discrimination, hate, intolerance, or judgment of any group.” Coun. Bell said Tuesday night. “By raising the Pride flag we are inherently excluding others, which is why the flag policy needs clarification. My main objective and goal is to fight for the innocence of our children."
Deputy Mayor Sue Orr said that she is comfortable with the flag policy and wants to strengthen it.
“I felt that was us as a community going backwards,” she said regarding taking the Pride flag down only one week into Pride Month this year.
For context, both Stratford and St. Marys have the Pride flag flying for the duration of June.
Coun. Jim Van Nes said that “the strongest, freest, most inclusive flag in the world,” is the Canadian flag. He advocated for all flags to be taken down and only the Canadian flag flown as a constant on the community pole.
Mayor Jim Aitcheson reiterated comments when the issue was first raised at the last meeting.
“I said at that meeting and I’ll say it again. I was the one that said raise the flag. If you want to point fingers point them at me … that’s why I get paid the big bucks. I have had virtually no calls until the last five days – or emails … I had emails and phone calls from people as far as Niagara-on-the-Lake and Windsor … and I had emails from locals. I had two emails against raising the Pride Flag. Everybody (else) was in support.
“To me, using the community flag pole means we’re an inclusive community.”
Citizens from Perth South and across the county attended and were invited to comment at the public question period that followed the decision.
Laura Taylor, who started the Stratford chapter of PFLAG (an organization started for parents wanting to better understand their 2SLGBTQ+ children), gave an emotional testimony.
“When our child came out as trans,” she said. “Just walking through downtown Stratford and seeing the flags just made me as a parent feel like my child will be safe in these places and she would be accepted.”
Other attendees had concerns about flying the Pride flag.
“This is about the essence of our youth,” said one man, who identified himself only as Dave. “I will fight tooth and nail, I don’t think a child needs to identify as anything but a child … forcing it on them through Drag Time Story hour makes no sense to me.”
Stratford-Perth Pride was concerned that Perth South would follow in the footsteps of Norwich township, which voted to only fly the flags of federal, provincial, and municipal governments on its property.
That decision garnered national attention. Adams said that it was concerning seeing another township consider a similar decision so close to home.
The process in reviewing its flag flying policy is not complete. Council voted to have a review done next year, when a new chief administrative officer starts work.
Despite the road ahead, Adams is hopeful for the future.
"Stratford-Perth Pride is still quite happy with with the outcome, being able to know that the flag policy will remain in place as is until staff are able to work on it," Adams assured. "And again, we'll be reaching out to council and staff in the spring, just to make sure that our voices (are) still heard."
