'Terrified just to exist in my own community': Norwich meeting on Pride flag becomes heated
Tensions are heated in the Oxford County village of Norwich, Ont.
There is fear, anger and division after a town hall meeting Tuesday night to discuss Pride flags, that some say became uncivil.
“There are three of them that are missing, they were gay Pride banners,” said Vic Whitcroft.
The lifelong Norwich resident said he flies his own Pride flag because last month a number of community sanctioned Pride flags were torn down. They have yet to be replaced.
“I think the town has hit an all new low and unfortunately our legacy may be that we are a town of people who are hateful rather than a people who are inclusive,” said Whitcroft.
The LGBTQ2 supporter took in Tuesday’s contentious town hall meeting, which many in attendance said went off the rails. Some LGBTQ2 members and their supporters said they were bullied and subjected to hate-speech, including Sofia Bryant.
“The LGBTQ community got compared to Hitler,” explained Bryant. “Talking about how gay men are responsible for monkeypox. And I think that’s the first time I’ve ever felt terrified just to exist in my own community.”
LGBTQ2 supporter Jennifer Wild said some people were being physically aggressive.
“I had a hard time moving past these people,” she said. “They had kind of congregated around these doors right at the front, kind of where the cars were all parked, and it was hard to get through. It was like they didn’t want to let people through.”
Much of the opposition to the Pride flags is reportedly coming from some members of the Netherlands Reformed Church Community, including one of its elders.
Gareth Tenhove is the provincial appointee to the local police services board, and a secondary principal at Rehoboth Christian School. In public statements and appearances he has made it clear that his community is very much against Pride flags being flown in Norwich.
He turned down an interview request from CTV News, but did express his comments recently in a letter to Norwich Council.
In the letter Tenhove stated, “The progress flag celebrates what is directly contrary to our values, and as a Christian community we are grieved and concerned.”
The letter went on to say “I ask that progress flags not be hung up again.”
In the meantime, Norwich Mayor Larry Martin said he did not personally witness any aggressive behaviour at the meeting, but he admits it was packed with more than 100 people so he couldn’t have seen everything going on.
Martin said it’s been hard to keep the peace.
“The two sides don’t agree, and understandably so, and understandably why, and it’s really wreaking havoc within the village of Norwich itself,” said Martin
As for Vic Whitcroft, he said he’ll continue waving his Pride flag until the town Pride flags are replaced.
“I’d like to see somebody volunteer to come and put them up,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.