Sign destroyed in 'disappointing' Halifax Pride Parade confrontation

This group with Amnesty International marched in the Halifax Pride Parade carrying signs with the flags of countries where the LGBTQ community is still fighting for rights and freedoms.

An ugly encounter at this year’s Halifax Pride Parade left some observers perplexed, while for others it reaffirms that the fight for LGBTQ rights is far from finished.

A group from Amnesty International was marching in Saturday’s parade carrying 10 signs, each bearing the flag of a country where people in the LGBTQ community don’t enjoy the same rights as in Canada.

“Our message was very much directed at LGBTI individuals in communities around the world who are still fighting for legal protection,” said Evelien VanderKloet, Amnesty International’s activism co-ordinator for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Suddenly, the marchers say, three men came out of the crowd, with one leading the way.

“He grabbed the Saudi Arabia sign, and we thought at first maybe he wanted to march with us, and there's this moment of confusion,” VanderKloet said.

But it became clear, VanderKloet said, that the man intended to destroy it.

Later the group found their sign ripped and broken.

Sybill Nunn says she watched the encounter take place.

“One of the fellows was ripping up the sign. He obviously was very upset about it, and just broke the stick and threw it on the ground,” Nunn said.

Nunn says she asked the man why he destroyed the sign. She says he toldher it was because the man carrying it wasn’t Saudi Arabian.

“I just retorted and said, ‘But they're just saying that they want everyone to have equal rights,’” Nunn said.

CTV News spoke with the man who had been carrying the sign that was taken.

He says the man who took it from him asked him if he was Saudi Arabian, and when he said he wasn’t, the man took the sign and left.

The flag-bearer says he’s not sure what the man’s motive was, but the experience made him feel uneasy.

Like Amnesty International, Pride organizers say the incident is disappointing and discouraging.

“I think a lot of the attitudes behind pride are still kind of revolutionary, so I think it is indicative of why we need a Pride Parade,” said Heather Green, vice-chair of Halifax Pride.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell