(Wingham, North Huron) Huron County Pride recently contacted municipal candidates and asked four questions about Pride Month, flying the Pride flag, participation in Pride events, and the responsibilities elected officials have toward 2SLGBTQIA+ residents.
North Huron Reeve candidate Stephen “Buck” Hill has responded openly to those questions below.
My answers are based on a simple principle: live and let live. I genuinely do not care who another adult falls in love with, lives with or chooses as a partner. That’s their life, their business and their freedom. Nobody should be mistreated, excluded from municipal services or denied a voice because of their sexual orientation—or because of their religion, politics, family structure or any other personal characteristic.
Where I differ with Huron County Pride is on the role of Town Hall. I don’t believe municipal institutions should provide moral guidance, endorse people’s private relationships, or elevate one identity or special-interest group above another. Municipal government should remain neutral, protect everyone’s rights equally and concentrate on the things residents actually depend upon: roads, sidewalks, water, sewer, infrastructure, responsible spending and accessible public services. Who you love is none of Town Hall’s business. Town Hall’s job is to serve you equally.
1. If elected, will you support your municipality declaring June to be Pride Month?
No.
I believe every resident should be respected and included 12 months of the year, regardless of sexual orientation, religion, race, politics, family structure or any other personal characteristic.
I would rather see municipal government promote pride in our entire community: pride in North Huron, our neighbours, our Canadian freedoms and the Charter rights that belong equally to everyone.
I don’t believe someone’s sexuality should determine how their municipality recognizes or treats them. People should be judged by their character, their actions and how they treat others—not by whom they love or choose to share their life with.
2. If elected, will you support your municipality flying the Pride Flag during June?
No.
I believe the municipality should maintain institutional neutrality rather than using municipal flagpoles to endorse particular social, political, religious or identity-based causes.
My preference is for our municipal flagpoles to display official governmental and community flags, particularly the Canadian flag.
I am especially concerned about the condition of the Canadian flag at our cenotaph. Canadians made enormous sacrifices for the freedoms and constitutional principles that protect all of us—including 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians. Properly maintaining that flag and honouring those sacrifices should be a basic municipal responsibility.
My position is not that one group deserves less respect. It is that municipal institutions should treat everyone equally without selecting particular groups for official endorsement.
3. Would you attend Huron County Pride events and support its programming, decal program and educational events?
I would not commit to attending Pride events or participating in the decal program in my official capacity as Reeve.
That does not mean residents, businesses or private organizations shouldn’t participate. They absolutely have the freedom to support Pride, display Pride flags, attend events or decline to do any of those things.
My concern is the distinction between private choice and municipal endorsement.
As Reeve, I would not want the municipality favouring one advocacy organization, identity group, religion or social movement over another. I would apply the same principle consistently.
Municipal resources should primarily be directed toward the services everyone depends upon: safe roads, cleared sidewalks, water and sewer infrastructure, emergency services, responsible spending and accessible public facilities.
Huron County Pride should have the same freedom as other community organizations to organize, speak, assemble and advocate. My job would be to ensure those freedoms are respected—not to tell residents what they should believe.
4. What do you see as your responsibility, as an elected official, towards 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and allies?
Exactly the same responsibility I have toward every other resident—and I consider that a very substantial responsibility.
As Reeve, I would work to ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ residents can address council, criticize their municipality, participate in municipal life, use municipal services and public spaces, and receive fair and respectful treatment without discrimination.
The Reeve also has an important responsibility as chair of council meetings to ensure orderly, open debate and that elected representatives have the opportunity to represent their constituents.
I do not believe municipal officials should serve as moral authorities over people’s private lives. Town Hall should not care whom you love, whom you live with, where you worship, how you vote, or what lawful personal choices you make.
It should care whether your road is safe, your sidewalk is cleared, your water runs, your taxes are spent responsibly, your rights are respected, and your voice can be heard.
That is what equality means to me: your municipality works for you because you are a resident—not because you belong, or do not belong, to a particular group.