A B.C. cityB次元官网网址檚 victory in a human rights complaint over a rainbow flag cost just over $62,000.
After the flag flew at Langley City hall to mark Pride Week, conservative and anti-SOGI Langley activist Kari Simpson went to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal in 2018 to argue the banner B次元官网网址減anders to sex activism, bully tactics, child abuse and special rights for certain groups.B次元官网网址�
In response, the City hired the law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright to defend the matter at a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal hearing.
A report to council filed on Sept. 30 by Chief Administrative Officer Francis Cheung described the process as B次元官网网址渓engthy and involved.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hile the City was successful in defending itself against the complaint, the effort and time required by the CityB次元官网网址檚 solicitor to prepare and submit evidence was considerable, resulting in legal costs totalling $62,058.05,B次元官网网址� Cheung wrote.
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Unlike a court case, where a successful applicant can apply to have the other party or parties pay a portion of their legal costs, at a Humans Right hearing costs are less likely to be awarded, with the Human Rights Code saying they can be ordered when a party B次元官网网址渉as engaged in improper conduct during the course of the complaint.B次元官网网址�
When the City rejected SimpsonB次元官网网址檚 complaint about the Pride flag, she asked to fly what she called the B次元官网网址淐anadian Christian FlagB次元官网网址� on what she termed the B次元官网网址淣ational Day of Blessing.B次元官网网址�
Simpson identified herself as the B次元官网网址渉ead organizer for the Langley Christian Flag committee and the organizer for the National Day of BlessingsB次元官网网址� when she launched her complaint to the tribunal.
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B次元官网网址淎ccording to publicly available information filed by the City, the City says that Ms. Simpson appears to be the creator of the B次元官网网址楴ational Day of BlessingsB次元官网网址� and the B次元官网网址楥anadian Christian flagB次元官网网址� and Oct. 1, 2018 appears to be the first time that Ms. Simpson celebrated this day and flag,B次元官网网址� the tribunalB次元官网网址檚 judgment said. B次元官网网址淢s. Simpson does not dispute this.B次元官网网址�
Simpson held a rally outside City hall at which the flag was displayed, but it was not raised on a City flagpole.
In April, the tribunal .
There was no evidence of any danger to her life, or of how the City might have incited B次元官网网址渃ontempt and hatred for ChristiansB次元官网网址� as she claimed, the ruling stated.
It went on to point out the long history of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
B次元官网网址淧ride celebrations help to counteract the historical discrimination committed against LGBTQ+ communities and help to bring those communities from a position of disadvantage to a more equal standing with heterosexual and cisgendered individuals who have historically enjoyed societal acceptance,B次元官网网址� the ruling said. B次元官网网址淭he act of flying the Rainbow Flag also serves a similar purpose.B次元官网网址�
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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