Resisting gay pride puts mayor before tribunal

The mayor of London appeared before the Ontario Human Rights Commission

By Rory Leishman - Special to ChristianWeek

LONDON, ON - During testimony before an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal on August 21, London Mayor Dianne Haskett disclosed that she could not, under any circumstances, issue a Pride Proclamation requested by the Homophile Association of London Ontario (HALO), because the practice of homosexuality conflicts with her evangelical Christian convictions.

Following HALO’s request in 1995, Haskett had stated that she would not issue proclamations as mayor relating to sexuality, abortion or any other issue that divides the community.

In response, Richard Hudler, then president of HALO, complained to the Ontario Human Rights Commission that refusal to issue the Pride Proclamation requested by his group violates the ban on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Under cross-examination before the human rights tribunal, the mayor expressed love and compassion for homosexuals, but affirmed that she could not approve the practice of homosexuality because of her religious beliefs.

Asked why she could not divorce her private religious convictions from her public duties as mayor, an emotional Haskett replied: "Frankly, I don’t know how that’s possible. My spiritual life is tied up in my relationship with God. And to say at some point in time that I’m going to separate myself from that. I understand that some people can conceive of how to do that, but I can’t conceive of how to do it.

"I think persons who separate themselves from their deeply held beliefs at the very least are [hypocritical]. At the very worst they’re turning their back on God, and I can’t do that.’’

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