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Vol. 18, No. 35, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
A matter of pride or politics? Bruderheim pride flag at firehall conflicts residents - but not because of sexuality
BY JANA SEMENIUK Bruderheim residents voiced their opinions on the displaying of a pride flag at the local fire hall by way of a poll on social media last week. The poll, posted anonymously, asked members to vote whether they were in favour of displaying political flags on the fire station or not.
number of years; the station has chosen to acknowledge diversity in this modest way,” he said. “There is no procedure or approval process related to placing items in windows. This is somewhat commonplace and signals a tolerant workplace. We don’t have anything to add comment on this.”
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... public services are to serve the citizens not political agendas. They need to be neutral for everyone.
... anybody that has a problem with the fire hall having full inclusion is a Neanderthal baboon...
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The anonymous poster later clarified through comments the political flag in question was a rainbow-coloured pride flag that is displayed in the window of the Bruderheim fire hall. Of the 46 people who voted, 40 voted for the choice of ‘I don’t like it when Bruderheim flies political flags. Public services should be completely neutral’; while six people voted ‘I like it when the fire hall flies political flags. Fly whatever flag you want.’ Although several comments between posters, supporting both sides, have since been removed, some comments supporting the flag have remained. “When I voted ‘No’ to this I assumed that it was about politics and not antipride,” said one poster. “I now changed my vote to yes because anybody that has a problem with the fire hall having full inclusion is a Neanderthal baboon and should crawl back under their rock!” Another poster echoed their statements and said the pride flag was not
This pride flag hanging in the window of the Bruderheim Fire Hall was the subject of an anonymous poll on social media last week asking if residents felt it was appropriate to display at the local fire station. When the polling ended after three days, 86 percent of the 46 respondents said no. Photo: Jana Semeniuk political. “Educate yourself and learn about respect and tolerance,” they said. The Lamont Leader reached out to some of the voters who voted against having the flag on their public buildings to find out why. While some would not respond to the request for comment, one Bruderheim resident said they would only comment underanonymity for concern of losing their job over speaking out. They said they are not opposed to any minorities but do not feel some should be represented more than others. “I believe with all the controversy surrounding today’s political differences, if the Town decides to support one minority over others it’s inviting itself (the Town) to be criticized openly
by other minority groups,” they said. Another Bruderheim resident, Arlie Young, said he is not opposed to gay people and has many friends who are gay. “They are the nicest people,” he said. “(But) public services are to serve the citizens not political agendas. They need to be neutral for everyone. Canadian and provincial flags only.” Bruderheim Fire Chief Al Klassen would also not answer questions around how the flag came to be in the window of the firehall or if it would be taken down should residents oppose it. Lamont County communication director Jay Zaal instead emailed this statement; “Flags have been displayed in windows at the Bruderheim Station for a
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Bruderheim mayor Karl Hauch also would not comment on the flag because, he said, the original poll was posted anonymously. Hauch also refused to comment on the number of people who are opposed to the displaying of the flag verses those who supported it. “I am opposed to discrimination that is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation,” he said by text. “That is all.” According to the L.A. County department of mental health, the pride flag has endured at least 20 revisions, since its inception at the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco, to now include other sexual minorities such as polysexual, the attraction to multiple genders, pansexual, the romantic attraction towards people of all genders as well as two-spirit, those who embody both male and female traits.