I fail to comprehend why somebody would want to discriminate against another person because of their sexual orientation. But thats what Mayor Bill Smith has managed to do for seven years now. Citing personal principles, he has steadfastly refused to sign the proclamation for Gay Pride Week and give the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community official city sanction for its celebrations.

Only a complaint to the Human Rights Commission and the threat of legal action against the City of Edmonton changed his mind last week, as he finally put pen to paper and proclaimed June 13th through June 22nd Gay Pride Week in Edmonton. Councillor Michael Phair, Edmontons first openly gay elected representative, is right when he says the proclamation is long overdue.

Hes served three terms on council with Smith and acknowledges that the Mayors refusal to sign has been as a point of friction between the two men. It was silly, really, he says. He should have done it years ago and it displayed poor leadership.

The proclamation puts Edmonton in line with other Canadian cities that have long proclaimed Gay Pride weeks and festivals. Even Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier has proclaimed that citys Pride Week and, around the country, such celebrations are now endorsed and contribute positively to the pride of the cities where they are held and to the tourism of said communities.

In Vancouver and Toronto, Pride Week festivals draw thousands of people and Edmonton, the City of Festivals, is well positioned to make our Pride Week the biggest and best on the prairies.

Mickey Wilson, Pride Week co-chair, agrees that the future is bright for the event. Were glad to have this proclamation and were working hard to build a better Pride Week, with great events and a real sense of community. Last year, our parade attracted 5,000 and we think that can continue to increase.

The parade, held last Sunday, ran down Jasper Avenue between 111th and 118th Streets, right through the heart of what has become one of Edmontons most gay friendly neighbourhoods. This Saturday evening at eight at the Provincial Museum, Edmonton Vocal Minority's concert will present an eclectic offering of music harkening back to the '60's. Pete Seeger's "Turn, Turn, Turn," Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and Holly Near's "Great Peace March" will bring back memories of an historic time in the establishment of rights for the LGBT community. There will be some fun jazz, stirring gospel, audience sing-a-longs, and even a bit of tacky lounge music.

The same evening, the Pride Dance and the 11th annual Pride Awards will be held at the Polish Hall. The four major pride Awards are named for Edmontonians who have been pillars in the citys gay community.

The Maureen Irwin Award recognizes a long-term individual achievement by a lesbian to the LGBT community, while the Michael Phair Award is given for long term individual achievement by a gay man. The Sheryl McInnis Award recognizes an individual for scholarly, teaching and/or academic contributions and the Larry Sands Award salutes a business that has solidly supported the LGBT community.

The awards are an important way of saluting those who give so much to the community and to give LGBT people some positive role models, Wilson says. Young people in particular need to know they are not alone because they are different and Pride Week is about celebrating their sexuality, not hiding from it or being ashamed of it.

Those who use their religion or their personal beliefs to justify attacks on another person are heading down a slippery slope of intolerance. Endorsing Pride Week 2003 is about more than gay men and women being accepted as equal members in our community. It sends a message of tolerance and diversity.

Its important that the Mayor signed the proclamation, but its unfortunate that the Mayor also chose to draw attention that he didnt do it willingly, says Joey Gierulski, Assistant Editor of Times10 Magazine, Edmontons Gay News Magazine. That says it is okay to hold your nose and put up with gay people, but not to truly accept them.

Even so, Gierulski says the proclamation is significant because it sends the message that being gay is something worthy of celebration. It all comes down to equality and having the same rights as any other person.

One of Edmontons greatest strengths is its diversity and its tolerance. Our city was built and continues to thrive on the strengths of a myriad of peoples who have come here from all parts of the world, from all socio-economic groups and across the spectrum of human experience. Some of them have been and are gay and Pride Week allows them to celebrate who they are, proudly and loudly.

Demographics are propelling the shift in tolerance and surveys show younger people are more accepting of differences and sexual orientation. Hiding behind deeply held personal beliefs in condemning homosexuality is no longer acceptable to the majority of Canadians.

Edmontons Mayor just grabbed hold of the 21st century and stepped into modern times. We have good laws and those who continue to fight for their civil rights and equality to thank for that.

If you'd like to offer your thoughts, please drop me an email at lawrenceherzog@hotmail.com. For information on reprints of previously published articles, check out my website at www.lawrenceherzog.com