Human Rights Are for All Humans
Monday August 06, 2007
Mayor
Bill Mills
and Truro Town
Council miss many important opportunities in
their myopic and bigoted refusal to recognize
Truro’s gay community. The actions of Council,
and certainly the comments of Mayor Mills,
fail to recognize that the recognition of
human rights benefit all citizens, not just
those seeking recognition.
Equality for and acceptance of the gay community is the latest evolutionary milestone in an enlightened and fair regard for all human rights that has developed over recent centuries through the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting rights to women and the protection of fundamental rights such as the right to vote regardless of the colour of the voter. In each of these battles for decency, those committed to good have fought against an entrenched status quo. We should always remember that the fights to end slavery or for women to vote were uphill battles against daunting odds. Just like these historic examples, the acceptance of homosexuality is a human rights crusade that benefits every member of society: justice for one is justice for all.
Sadly, however, the vile comments of Mayor Mills have made Truro’s debate over its homosexual community more than an issue of fundamental human rights. By equating homosexuality to “paedophilia,” Mayor Mills has embarrassed this city and province. Paedophilia is a violent crime in which an empowered predator victimizes a multiply disadvantaged child. Mayor Mills’ ignorant and insulting equation of homosexuality with paedophilia hurts Truro profoundly.
Two recent events have connected the concept of “evolution” with Truro, and this mayor and council need to evolve so that we all might survive and grow. The Joggins Fossil Cliffs recently made an application to UNESCO for inscription on the World Heritage List. In large part, that application is founded on the unique fossil record at Joggins, a record which offers the world’s best illustration of the evolutionary milestone in which marine life chose to live on land. In this application to UNESCO, Nova Scotia seeks global recognition for its inspiring record of evolution. Many of the tourists, students and researchers Nova Scotia hopes to attract to Joggins will drive past or through Truro. Globally, Nova Soctia is seeking recognition for evolution, while locally the bigotry of Mayor Mills and council reveal a disgusting refusal to evolve.
Similarly, thousands of people will have just driven past or through Truro after having attended the Evolve music festival in Antigonish. In refusing to recognize Truro’s gay and/or gay-positive community, Mayor Mills and Truro Town Council have shown the country and the world that evolution is not welcome in Truro.
Mayor Mills defends his hateful comments with his religion. Citizens should remind Mayor Mills that he did not run for public office as a religious official, but rather as a secular politician devoted, in large part, to local development. Every single one of us knows that Truro needs to keep its citizens and entice people to move here. The intolerance and viciousness displayed by the Mayor and Council in their refusal to recognize the gay community simply will not help us evolve.
Equality for and acceptance of the gay community is the latest evolutionary milestone in an enlightened and fair regard for all human rights that has developed over recent centuries through the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting rights to women and the protection of fundamental rights such as the right to vote regardless of the colour of the voter. In each of these battles for decency, those committed to good have fought against an entrenched status quo. We should always remember that the fights to end slavery or for women to vote were uphill battles against daunting odds. Just like these historic examples, the acceptance of homosexuality is a human rights crusade that benefits every member of society: justice for one is justice for all.
Sadly, however, the vile comments of Mayor Mills have made Truro’s debate over its homosexual community more than an issue of fundamental human rights. By equating homosexuality to “paedophilia,” Mayor Mills has embarrassed this city and province. Paedophilia is a violent crime in which an empowered predator victimizes a multiply disadvantaged child. Mayor Mills’ ignorant and insulting equation of homosexuality with paedophilia hurts Truro profoundly.
Two recent events have connected the concept of “evolution” with Truro, and this mayor and council need to evolve so that we all might survive and grow. The Joggins Fossil Cliffs recently made an application to UNESCO for inscription on the World Heritage List. In large part, that application is founded on the unique fossil record at Joggins, a record which offers the world’s best illustration of the evolutionary milestone in which marine life chose to live on land. In this application to UNESCO, Nova Scotia seeks global recognition for its inspiring record of evolution. Many of the tourists, students and researchers Nova Scotia hopes to attract to Joggins will drive past or through Truro. Globally, Nova Soctia is seeking recognition for evolution, while locally the bigotry of Mayor Mills and council reveal a disgusting refusal to evolve.
Similarly, thousands of people will have just driven past or through Truro after having attended the Evolve music festival in Antigonish. In refusing to recognize Truro’s gay and/or gay-positive community, Mayor Mills and Truro Town Council have shown the country and the world that evolution is not welcome in Truro.
Mayor Mills defends his hateful comments with his religion. Citizens should remind Mayor Mills that he did not run for public office as a religious official, but rather as a secular politician devoted, in large part, to local development. Every single one of us knows that Truro needs to keep its citizens and entice people to move here. The intolerance and viciousness displayed by the Mayor and Council in their refusal to recognize the gay community simply will not help us evolve.
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