Local Pride group urges continued acceptance in wake of Taber flag controversy

By Mo Cranker on February 3, 2018.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

With news coming out of Taber that the town denied a request from a pride group to fly its flag on a community flag pole, the Medicine Hat Pride Association says it is disappointed in the circumstances, but understanding of the town’s decision.

“When you do reading on things like this decision, you have to understand that there’s a lot to it,” said Medicine Hat Pride Association’s new chairman Becki Korhonen. “I am aware that the pride flag had been violated in the past in Taber, and it seems like it’s a group of people who want to show disrespect to the flag, and it seems it is always under attack there.

“You also have to understand that it’s all groups in Taber that cannot use that flagpole now, because of this — that’s disappointing for a lot of people. From the town’s point of view, they’re trying to protect their property, and no matter what, we have to be understanding of that.”

There was a very mixed reaction on social media around the city, province and country as various news outlets posted the story on the social media outlets.

Some people applauded the town’s decision, while others were outraged at the Taber LGBTQ group being unable to fly their flag in June.

Korhonen says Pride is all about accepting and understanding people.

“We’re not a hate group, we’re a love group,” she said. “The pride flag shows that we want to live peacefully and respectfully with everyone. It would be great for us to be able to fly that flag to show everyone that they are accepted — no matter their religion, political stance, who they love or anything else like that — to have that attacked is saying something to everyone, not just people who love differently.”

As for working with, and in the city of Medicine Hat, Korhonen says she has had positive experiences in her year working with Pride.

“The city has always been very understanding with us,” she said. “They are always receptive, and our pride celebrations always have some politicians and people on council around.

“I think it’s just a very select few people that try and deter from the celebrations by doing the vandalism acts, but you have to remember that those people have their rights, just like we have ours.”

12
-11