The president of the local Gay Pride Association is disappointed in a new billboard with an anti-gay message, but says she is more concerned about how it makes Chatham-Kent look as a community.
A photo has been circulating on social media of a billboard at Kent Bridge Rd. and Countryview Line, which states "God says no to homosexuals and abortions."
The majority of the reaction has been negative, with people disgusted that something with that subject matter would be posted in the municipality. The timing of the sign is interesting as CK just hosted its biggest Pride event along with its first-ever Pride parade.
Marianne Willson, president of the Chatham-Kent Pride Association, says she understands everyone has the right to freedom of expression, but the sign goes beyond attacking LGBTQ+ and pro-choice people.
"This opinion really attacks the very soul of Chatham-Kent," Willson said. "It says to new investors, businesses, residents, or those looking to move here that Chatham-Kent is not open to diversity. It says we are a closed minded group of people, that we don't want people of differing opinions moving here."
Willson said she knows none of that is actually true about the community. She said the recent support received from the municipality and its residents during Pride Week was above and beyond anything she expected. She believes whoever put the sign up doesn't realize what they are doing to the community. Willson said she does not advocate for any sort of violence toward the person who put it up or vandalism to the sign or their property. She just simply wants to ask them some questions.
"Do you really understand what you're choosing to do? Is that really your intention?" Willson said. "Maybe there's a better way and maybe we need to talk. That is what I would encourage and that is what I would embrace."
Willson added, though we live in a more accepting society as a whole, young LGBTQ+ people have some of the highest attempted suicide rates in the country. She said they have enough bullying and confusion to deal with as is and things like this billboard only make it harder on them. Willson said 65% of Canadian youth LGBTQ+ males will attempt suicide based on their sexual orientation. The figure is 45% for young LGBTQ+ females.
"Those are staggering stats," Willson said. "And this kind of billboard only inflames those statistics. I think that morally and socially we have a responsibility to look beyond ourselves and I think that is really the conversation that needs to happen."
Willson said her phone blew up Wednesday night with people showing her the pictures of the billboard. She added there were many opinions about what they should do about it, but felt the best play was to take a step back and calmly think about it.
"We live in a country with freedom of speech, which is a beautiful gift," Willson said. "We have to continue to embrace that and recognize we can use our words and voices for good. It isn't about attacking others and making them feel badly about themselves or destroying other people's property."