EDMONTON – As the Sochi 2014 opening ceremonies were underway in Russia Friday morning, a rainbow flag was raised outside Edmonton’s City Hall.
The pride flag has been put up in support of LGBT communities worldwide, in a silent gesture of protest to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called anti-gay propaganda law. The flag will stay up for the duration of the 2014 Olympics.
Mayor Don Iveson pitched the idea to city council after being approached about it over Twitter.
“In Canada, diversity and embracing our different communities is very important to us,” he said. “And it’s just a message that local communities are sending out across the country, and Edmonton’s going to be a part of that.”
The decision is being well-received on social media by many Edmontonians:
https://twitter.com/BRinYEG/status/431863712937304064
https://twitter.com/PeterRSkinner/status/431858473672781825
Friday afternoon, the Government of Alberta confirmed that the pride flag will fly at the Legislature, as well.
https://twitter.com/SANDRAYYCNW/status/431925799973691392
“If there’s one value that is uniquely Canadian in the last 20 years, it has been support for the LGBTQ community,” said Dr. Robert Murray, adjunct professor at the University of Alberta. “Really, Canada pioneered a lot of the support for that community, the rights to marriage, rights to benefits, etc.”
Other Canadian cities standing in solidarity with the LGBT community include Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and St. John’s.
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In Toronto, though, Mayor Rob Ford wants the rainbow flag that was raised outside city hall to be taken down. He would like to see it replaced by the Canadian flag.
“This is about the Olympics, this is about being patriotic to your country,” Ford said. “This is not about sexual preference.”
WATCH: ‘The Games have always been a little gay’
The Kremlin’s law which makes it illegal to spread “propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations” to minors, under threat of steep fines was passed in late June. It has sparked numerous protests ever since.
“You have, you know, one of the largest nations in the world and one of the most powerful nations in the world openly violating people’s human rights, just by virtue of their sexuality and sexual orientation,” said Murray.
“It’s really medieval type of thinking and something we should really be past.”
READ MORE: How Russia enforces its ban on gay ‘propaganda’
President Vladimir Putin assured the gay community that it will be welcome in Sochi but only if its members “leave the kids alone.”
The International Olympics Committee has reminded athletes that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites.”
READ MORE: Russian police arrest gay activists on opening day of Sochi Olympics
Friday’s pride flag-raising in Edmonton isn’t the first time the city has shown its support for the LGBT community. For last June’s Pride Week, a rainbow-coloured flag was raised at the Canadian Forces Base in Edmonton, in what was described as a first in Canada.
But will its use this time make a difference on Russia’s anti-gay policies? Murray says not a chance.
“If they haven’t been able to change their attitudes in the last 20 years, they have no intention of doing so.”
Still, the colourful show of support may serve as a reminder to the gay community in Sochi that it’s not alone.
The 2014 Olympics wrap up Feb. 23, with the Paralymics running from March 7-16.
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