By John-Henry Westen
KAMLOOPS, BC, June 16, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The cry for tolerance for homosexuality has quickly evolved into intolerance for those who object to homosexuality. Kamloops city councillor John DeCicco, first elected in 1999, has consistently opposed the homosexual pride proclamation. But after opposing the measure again this year his barber shop was vandalized with “Homophobia Die” scrawled on the door of his business.
After waiting for him to finish a haircut for one of his clients, LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Mr. DeCicco, an Italian immigrant who came to Canada at the young age of 15 and is fiercely proud of the country he now calls home.“In this great nation of ours,” he says, “we can express our opinions and when you can’t there’s something wrong.”
DeCicco is very much a community man, playing a very active role in the local Knights of Columbus. Of his opposition to gay pride, heÂsaid “I’m not against lesbian and gay people, but I don’t agree that I should have to endorse it.” He also said that people can do what they like in the privacy of their own homes, but, he said in reference to gay pride parades, they shouldn’t “go out and flaunt it, in front of people who don’t necessarily agree.”
All eight other city council members voted in favour of the gay pride proclamation. Some of the members reacted with disdain when DeCicco commented on television about his decision to object to the proclamation. In line with Catholic teaching on the matter, he described homosexual acts as “not normal and not natural.’‘
DeCicco said police were not called about the incident but he believed the city would be looking into that.
The Knight/baber/city councillor told LifeSiteNews.com that since the story of the vandalism to his shop was covered by local media, he has “been inundated with phone calls and emails” which he described as “eighty-five per cent supportive.” He noted however there were some very nasty letters opposing his stand. One, he recalled, stated “I hope you rot in Hell.”