In a show of support for equality, acceptance and love, a small crowd gathered to watch the mayor hoist a rainbow into the sky, May 17.
These days a pride flag isn’t an uncommon sight in Jasper, but Saturday’s ceremonial flag raising was more than a celebration; it was Jasper’s way of recognizing International Day Against Homophobia.
With only a handful of bystanders gathered for the occasion, Mayor Richard Ireland suggested, perhaps, the turnout is a positive indication of the level of acceptance in Jasper.
The International Day Against Homophobia was first recognized in 2003, as a way of bringing light to the homosexual experience and the reality that, until there is unlimited social acceptance of homosexuality, homophobia will continue to cause pain and suffering for members of the LGBTQ community.
It falls on May 17 in recognition of the World Health Organization (WHO) removing homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses on that day in 1990.
The day is a reminder that, although gay rights have come a long way, there are still 82 countries in the world where homosexuality is illegal, and in some of those countries it is even punishable by death.
And it is a reminder that although Jasper is an accepting community—that proudly flies the rainbow flag and safely hosts an annual weekend-long festival—there are many places where acceptance isn’t the norm.
It was on May 17, 2013 that the pride flag was first flown in Jasper, and since then it has made its way up the flag pole outside the Emergency Service Building a handful of times.
Nicole Veerman
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