The pride flag is a symbol of the LGBTQ movement. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

equal rights

‘This needs to happen’: La Ronge councillors to vote on raising pride flag

Jun 11, 2019 | 12:06 PM

Flying the pride flag in La Ronge would be a way for the community to show support for people who have been marginalized in society.

That’s according to former resident Jordan McKay, now a resident of Saskatoon, who will be returning to his hometown Wednesday to try convince council to raise the pride flag. He’s come a long way since he moved away as he’s now openly gay and a well-known drag performer under the name Cheryl Trade. McKay said growing up in the North was hard for him with there being such a small-town mentality and some residents holding the belief that not just being gay, but being different is wrong.

“It’s important for youth in my home community to grow up in a space that’s open and looking to provide safe spaces for the LGBTQ communities,” he said. “I thankfully never had any stand-out incidents because I stayed in the closet when I was in La Ronge.”

McKay noted one way to make changes moving forward would be to raise the pride flag, which has happened only once in February 2014. In June 2017, Coun. Jordan McPhail brought a motion forward to raise the flag in La Ronge at a regular council meeting, but it was defeated when councillors Dallas Everest, Matthew Klassen, Rex McPhail and Hugh Watt voted against it. Raising the flag did receive support from Mayor Ron Woytowich and Glen Watchel.

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When councillors vote on the pride flag again Wednesday, McKay said he wants them to take into consideration what’s happening around the world and remember it’s been 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada. He also wants them to realize the impact they have.

“The world is moving forward and I think town council has to think where they want to be when it comes to history,” McKay said. “Do we want to look back at La Ronge in 20 years and see people leaving their hometown in 2019 because they don’t feel safe?”

Jordan McKay, dressed here as Cheryl Trade, said it was a liberating feeling to walk in drag during La Ronge’s first Pride Parade. (submitted photo/Jordan McKay)

Jordan McPhail, who assists in organizing the Pride Parade and Festival in La Ronge since it began in 2017, confirmed his support for raising the flag.

“I want to make it very clear this needs to happen for kids and adults alike who are either out or coming out or afraid to come out, that if they do, they have elected leadership within their own municipality who they can stand with and who are behind them in their fight for equal rights within society,” McPhail said.

larongeNOW reached out to some town councillors who voted not to raise the pride flag in 2017. Klassen stated in an email he voted no that year because he was of the opinion the flag poles at the town office should only be used for municipal, provincial and country flags. He added, as a councillor, he must consider what residents want and attempt to act in the best interest of the entire population. Klassen also wrote all people should be accepted for who they are regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.

“The town does have a flag policy that will be adopted to address instances such as this, and I will be making a motion to have a flag pole installed downtown where we will allow flags to be flown as a show of communal support,” he said.

The decision to fly the pride flag will be made Wednesday at a regular town council meeting which starts at 7 p.m.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno