B.C.鈥檚 Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint saying Langley鈥檚 flying of an LGBTQ+ rainbow flag is discriminatory.
Complainant Kari Simpson said it discriminated against her on the bases of accommodation, service and facility on the basis of religion, sexual identity and gender identity or expression.
Simpson said flying the flag incited 鈥渃ontempt and hatred for Christians, and any other religious group that does not accept the sex activists鈥� political agenda,鈥� the ruling said.
Simpson described herself as 鈥渁 Canadian, a Christian, a local business owner, president of a non鈥恜rofit organization called Culture Guard and a local resident who is often in the vicinity of the Langley City flag poles.鈥�
She told the tribunal flying the rainbow flag while denying her request for the 鈥淐anadian Christian Flag鈥� to be flown on the 鈥淣ational Day of Blessings鈥� was discriminatory.
The city鈥檚 council passed a motion in July 2016 amending its flag policy to include flying the Rainbow Flag for a one鈥恮eek period annually during Vancouver鈥檚 annual Pride Week.
Two years later, a Simpson, social conservative activist opposed to any positive portrayal of a gay lifestyle, sent council a letter objecting to the flag.
She described the flag as a symbol of a campaign that 鈥減anders to sex activism, bully tactics, child abuse and special rights for certain groups.鈥� Simpson described the flag as 鈥渙ppressive and used to direct hatred and contempt against anyone who dares challenge the LGBTQ2++ narrative鈥� and a 鈥渢rigger event that causes those who have been sexually assaulted by someone of the same sex to have to relive painful events.鈥�
Further, she said, 鈥渓ike the Nazi flag, the rainbow flag is a symbol for a militant political movement. It was created to declare power and victory and represents a political movement; and it identifies with political propaganda that is hostile and threatening towards other protected groups.鈥�
The city rejected Simpson鈥檚 request.
A month later, Simpson sent another letter, requesting the 鈥淐anadian Christian Flag鈥� be flown on the 鈥淣ational Day of Blessings.鈥� Neither of the terms was explained.
The city said such a day is not a recognized holiday in Canada and that it was unaware of a nationally recognized 鈥淐anadian Christian Flag.鈥�
The request was denied.
The April 7 decision by tribunal member Paul Singh said information filed by the city showed Simpson appears to be the creator of both the celebration day and the Christian flag.
鈥淢s. Simpson does not dispute this,鈥� Singh wrote.
鈥淭he city says it does not provide courtesy flag services to any religion because it is bound by a duty of religious neutrality,鈥� Singh said.
Despite the denial, Ms. Simpson showed up at city hall on Oct. 1, 2018, and displayed her flag.
鈥淪he was not impeded by the city from doing so,鈥� Singh said.
Singh said Simpson provided no evidence about how flying the flag endangered her.
He said flying the rainbow flag by municipalities furthers non-discrimination.
鈥淭he Rainbow Flag is a symbol of pride representing the diversity of LGBTQ+ communities and is a symbol to promote inclusivity and to address issues such as racial discrimination, cultural exclusions and other challenges faced by those in the LGBTQ+ communities,鈥� Singh wrote.
Further, he said, the prohibition against flying religious flags while flying the Rainbow Flag is not a distinction that is discriminatory.
Simpson鈥檚 claim of discrimination had no reasonable prospect of succeeding, Singh wrote in approving the city鈥檚 application to have the complaint dismissed in its entirety.
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