Rainbow flag snub sparks human rights complaint

A gay rights group hasfiled a human rightscomplaint over the Town of Truro's refusal to fly the rainbow flag.

Charles Thompson, with Truro Pride,said the discrimination complaint centres on the fact the town council has agreed to fly flags for other community organizations and groups.

"Which leads us to believe that there is some form of homophobia in the works there," he told CBC News Friday.

Earlier this month, Truro town council voted 6-1 against raising therainbow-coloured flag to coincide with gay pride activities in Pictou County.

Some councillors saidthe request from Truro Pride came in late and there was no time for a debate. But Mayor Bill Mills said as a Christian he could not agree to the raise the flag.

Thompson said hewas waiting for the town's mayor to contact his group to resolve the matter. But since thatdidn't happen, he saidTruro Pride took the next step and filedthe complaint with theNova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

The six-colour flag wasdesigned in 1978 by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker to represent gay and lesbianpride. Ithas become a universal symbol for the gay community.