---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 16:00:54 -0500 (CDT) From: "Lauren E. Valle" Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 08:11:36 -0500 From: Baptist Student Union Reply-To: utmbsu-l@utm.edu To: utmbsu-l@utm.edu, MidgetTC@aol.com, fourcampers@juno.com, goodnews8@juno.com, gprice@aeneas.net, hall@gomemphis.com Subject: Fwd: Feature Story for Wednesday, September 30, 1998 >From: Msmaxscene@aol.com >Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 21:38:39 EDT > > C U R R E N T F E A T U R E S T O R Y > by the Editors at ReligionToday.com > >September 30, 1998 > > >Mayor "will not bow" to homosexuals > >Mayor Dianne Haskett of London, Ontario, has stood up for her >Christian convictions despite criticism and a $10,000 fine for >refusing to proclaim a Gay Pride weekend. > >...The Ontario Human Rights Commission called Haskett before a >tribunal last year to explain why she had refused to implement >its ruling requiring her to make a declaration in support of the >weekend. Haskett, a committed evangelical who is a member of >London's Metropolitan United Church, said the ruling violated her >freedom of speech and conscience under Canada's constitution in >the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. > >...Haskett instituted a policy in 1995 banning proclamations >related to abortion, homosexuality, heterosexuality, or celibacy >after receiving word that the Homophile Association of London, >Ontario, or HALO, would seek a gay pride proclamation. She told >the commission that endorsing abortion or homosexuality would be >"turning my back on God and I can't do that. The day I turn my >back on God is the day I lose my authority as the mayor of >London." > >...The tribunal fined Haskett and the city $10,000, which must be >paid to Richard Hudler, former president of HALO. It ordered the >city to issue gay-pride proclamations when asked, to "make a >statement of recognition that the lesbian and gay and bisexual >communities are integral and important communities within the >City of London," and to "make a commitment to investigate ways of >fostering a positive relationship between the City of London and >the gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities." The city council >voted not to appeal the commission's decision after "an hour of >emotional debate behind closed doors," news reports said. > >...While the city council was announcing it would not appeal the >fine, Haskett was campaigning for re-election, with the vote >three weeks away. She refused to implement the commission's >order, and instead took a three-week leave of absence to allow >the council to do so. Before leaving, she transferred her mayoral >duties to Grant Hopcroft, deputy mayor and her opponent in the >race. Haskett made no public appearances for three weeks, saying >it would be unfair to campaign while Hopcroft was busy running >the city. > >..."I never advocated discrimination and I never discriminated," >Haskett said in a statement protesting the tribunal's ruling. "I >had a policy that allowed me to remain silent on issues of deep >personal conviction, so that I would neither force those values >on the community nor be forced to compromise them...I have never >advocated discrimination against gays and lesbians, many of whom >have been my clients, my tenants, my colleagues, and my friends. >I do not judge or condemn. And I am not angry or bitter at HALO >or any members of it for what I have had to go through to >maintain my right to choose what I will say and what I will not >say. > >..."I have never interfered with the activities of this group, as >evidenced by the Pride celebrations that go on very openly each >year. But at the same time, I am not prepared to be, now or in >the future, the advocate for this organization or its agenda. I >will not bow down to the ruling of the Human Rights Commission >and I am willing to bear any consequences of that." > >...Hopcroft announced his support for a Gay Pride weekend, and >the race became a referendum on the issue. Newspapers >characterized Haskett as intolerant, bigoted, and a disgrace to >the city, and The London Free Press described her decision to >step down as bizarre. "At the risk of repeating bromides about >people who can't stand the heat getting out of the kitchen and >what the tough do when the going gets tough, what is she >thinking?" the newspaper said. > >...But 400 people marched to City Hall to show their support. >"Diane has earned our respect for the kind of person we know her >to be," businessman Randy Collins told the crowd, the Free Press >reported. "Integrity of her kind is all too rare in people in >political life." He said Haskett had kept her political promises. >Another supporter told the crowd that Haskett is a decisive >leader who has remained true to her principles. > >...Haskett won the election by a two-to-one majority on Nov. 10. >She defeated Hopcroft 63.6% to 31% in one of the largest turnouts >in a London municipal election in recent years. She credited God >for her victory, and said it was "a gift from the people of >London." She won strong support "not only from the evangelical >Christian community, but from other faith groups and the broader >community for her principled stands on a variety of moral and >social issues and her efforts to promote reconciliation among >different parts of the community," Christian Week reported. > >----------- >RELATED LINKS: > http://www.religiontoday.com/Addendum/London_Statement.html > http://www.christianweek.org/stories/index.htm > > >----------- >For today's complete News Summary from ReligionToday, >go to http://www.ReligionToday.com/CurrentNewsSummary/ > > >----------- >Today in LiveIt! > > "Sing your stress away: " > > > >Read more at http://www.liveit.net/life/life19980930.html > > >----------- >News from ReligionToday.com is Copyrighted by Media >Management. Content may be reproduced provided proper >credit is given to www.ReligionToday.com. Please go to >http://www.GOSHEN.net/Copyright.html to be sure you >meet all legal requirements. > > > >--- >Thank you for subscribing to the Feature Story mailing list as: >[Msmaxscene@AOL.com]. To unsubscribe, forward this message to >unsubscribe-featurestory@lists.religiontoday.com > <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Shalom (Real PEACE is found only in Jesus the Christ), Adam Hall 1102 Elm St. Martin, TN 38237 http://www.utm.edu/~bsu/decison.htm bsu@utm.edu ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>