‘Silent’ Pride flag-raising seen as ‘hollow’
In light of COVID-19, celebrations have been moved online. Report into last year’s violence out next week
Members of Pride Hamilton are calling the “silent” raising of the rainbow and transgender flags over city hall as a “hollow gesture” by the municipality.
On Monday, the city raised the flags, marking the beginning of Pride Month in Hamilton, according to a release.
Staff bypassed a flag-raising ceremony, pointing to the COVID-19 social and physical distancing measures which have “placed an immense strain on the social fabric” of the city.
In a statement, Mayor Fred Eisenberger encouraged all residents to support and memorialize what the 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and the community bring to Hamilton by getting involved in the online Pride celebration.
He added that there is still “much we need to do” to ensure inclusion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in the city.
“Now more than ever, we need to continue meaningful dialogue to ensure all people in the Queer and Trans communities in Hamilton feel respected, supported, celebrated and, safe,” said Eisenberger. Cameron Kroetsch, Pride Hamilton board member, said the organization was never made aware of the flag-raising and has yet to hear from Eisenberger in the aftermath of Pride 2019.
By comparison, Toronto Mayor John Tory also raised their city’s Pride and Trans flags on Monday over live stream on Twitch.
“This is an empty and hollow gesture,” said Kroetsch.
“There have been no meaningful attempts at dialogue.”
In a statement to The Spectator Tuesday, Eisenberger said the city has flown the flags “to demonstrate our desire to work with the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and to recognize and celebrate their community.”
The comments from Eisenberger come at the nearly oneyear mark of Hamilton’s Pride celebration last June, which saw several injured and five people charged when radical evangelical protesters crashed the annual celebration at Gage Park.
In November, the Hamilton Police Services Board tapped Toronto lawyer Scott Bergman to conduct an independent review of the events that led up to the Pride clash and how police responded to the violence on June 15.
That report was due back April 30, but was delayed because of the pandemic. It’s scheduled to be released on June 8.
“People still don’t have answers,” Kroetsch said. “We’re coming into Pride month, where many of the people were traumatized by the violence and they’re carrying that violence with them.”
Kroetsch said with members of the community unable to gather as they usually would, the organization has moved this year’s Pride events online.
Prior to the pandemic, they had planned to have a rally, a picnic at Gage Park, as well as a coffee house-style event and workshops.
Instead, Digital Pride on June 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., will feature performances for kids, drag kings and queens and spoken word.
Kroetsch said COVID-19 hindering the ability for people to gather at Gage Park this year has been “hard” for those who attended last year. Reclaiming that space was at the “foundation” of planning this year’s event, he said.
“It’s difficult,” he said. “We’re definitely disappointed.”
Kroetsch said they will also be recognizing National Indigenous History Month and working to connect with people from Black Lives Matter.
“It’s really important for us to connect with others and show solidarity,” he said. “That’s what it means to be a part of oppressed communities.”