By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
FREDERICTON, NB, August 10, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In 1995, Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside refused to proclaim “Pride Week” until forced to do so in 1998 by the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission.
At the time, Woodside argued that his faith and his right to freedom of speech exempted him from having to proclaim Pride Week, and that “sex had no place in the council chambers.”
This Sunday, however, Fredericton held its first gay parade, with Mayor Woodside raising the rainbow flag on Friday outside city hall and telling the 50 or so people gathered to watch that he looked forward “to entertaining you in my council chamber Monday night when I shall read, with great enthusiasm and pride, the pride proclamation.”
“This is me today and not from 1995,” he said. “That's a good thing for the gay and lesbian community, and it's a good thing for me.”
According to the Fredericton Daily Gleaner, “Woodside read the proclamation into the record as members of the community's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and polyamorous sat in the public gallery looking down onto the floor of the council chambers.”
The mayor did not take part in the parade, composed of about 250 marchers, but met the group at Officer's Square and said he was proud to be a part of the festivities, the Gleaner reported.
Contact info for Mayor Brad Woodside
Fredericton City Hall
397 Queen Street, P.O. Box 130
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y7
Phone: (506) 460-2085
Fax: (506) 460-2134
Email (via website): https://www.fredericton.ca/en/citygovernment/CityCouncil.asp
See related LSN articles:
FREDERICTON MAYOR FACES HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL FOR REFUSING TO PROCLAIM GAY PRIDE WEEK
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1998/jul/98071003.html
Nova Scotia Mayor Refuses to Fly Gay Flag Because of Christian Beliefs
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07080706.html
Decision to Limit Flags that Can Be Flown is “Homophobic” Says Activist
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08020607.html