London mayor faces hefty fine

The London City Council voted unanimously on October 20 not to appeal. Haskett’s decision was announced a day later.

On October 9, adjudicator Mary Anne McKellar held that in refusing to make the Pride proclamation requested in 1995 by Richard Hudler, former head of the Homophile Association of London Ontario(HALO), Haskett and the City of London had violated the ban on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the Ontario Human Rights Code.

McKellar awarded Hudler the maximum amount of damages permitted by the code--$10,000 plus interest--and made Haskett and the city jointly liable for paying this award.

In addition, McKellar ruled that HALO is entitled to have either the mayor or the city of London proclaim a Pride Day/Weekend and, "make a statement of recognition that the Lesbian and Gay and Bisexual Communities are integral and important communities within the City of London."

The council will be issuing the proclamation. However, Haskett told an October 21 press gathering that she will never issue such a proclamation herself; indeed, that if she is re-elected she will issue no proclamations whatsoever.

Serious controversy

During testimony before the tribunal, Haskett disclosed that her refusal to issue a gay pride proclamation was motivated by her evangelical Christian beliefs and a desire to avoid "serious controversy in the community."

In an earlier response to McKellar’s ruling, she told The London Free Press: "I never meant any harm. I only wanted to remain silent and I certainly didn’t want there to be any backlash or hatred on either side."

She also stated: "If this ruling is left unchallenged, any Canadian can be forced to say what they don’t believe.... The implications are so staggering it should be a matter for legal review."

Deputy Mayor Grant Hopcroft, who is running against Haskett for mayor, says he is opposed to any appeal to the courts and will press for a conciliatory meeting with HALO before the next municipal election in November.