In a world full of hatred, intolerance and violence, Ottawa is proudly standing out.
When the City of Ottawa raised the rainbow flag over city hall during last month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, it was taking an important step in trumpeting our inclusive society.
The rainbow flag, which has come to represent the gay rights movement, is a colourful reminder that Ottawa and Canada are a beacon of tolerance in a world that remains largely hostile to homosexuality.
Ottawa, along with several other Canadian cities and towns, raised the rainbow flags, in reaction to Russia’s law against “gay propaganda” which essentially put homosexuals in the same boat as pedophiles. Here in Canada, Rob Ford, a regular national embarrassment, made a fuss about flying the flag at city hall.
Some argue that the flag-raising is an empty, superficial measure that does nothing to help the issue of homophobia. In reality, the symbolic gesture sends a simple but powerful message not just around the world but on a local level. When people see the rainbow flag flying over city hall they know that their government stands up for basic human rights regardless of their sexual orientation. Sadly, many places around the world are far from that reality.
From Russia to Uganda to Arizona, news of governments cracking down on gay rights has made glaring headlines in the past several months.
Uganda’s new anti-gay law allows the state to punish “aggravated homosexuality” with life in prison. In Uganda, and many other countries in Africa and the Middle East, homosexuals must live in constant fear of violent attacks, raids on their homes, torture, and even death.
In Arizona, the state legislature passed a law allowing private businesses to cite religious beliefs as a defence for refusing services to certain people. The thinly-veiled attempt to allow discrimination against homosexuals was thankfully vetoed by the state’s governor after private businesses, such as Apple and AT&T, spoke out against the bill.
Sadly, the bill’s veto seemed to be based more on the potential economic impact of boycotts than the fact that law would allow Jim Crow era discrimination to return to the United States.
All these stories make the rainbow flags here a powerful reminder of the rights and freedoms Canadians are lucky to have, but also responsible for promoting.
Raising flags doesn’t mean homophobia or discrimination is no longer a problem in Canada but it does show the enormous progress that has been made for equal rights. After all, fewer than 50 years ago homosexuality was illegal in Canada too.
The flag-raisings should only be the start of Canada’s promotion and defence of gay rights around the world. Real sanctions on states that grossly violate human rights are the next concrete step in this effort. Arizona’s fear of losing the Super Bowl over its anti-gay law is just one example of how money can change minds.
In many ways the advancement of gay rights has become one of the defining issues of our time. Canadians should take pride that their governments have chosen the right side of history and are helping to build a more inclusive world.