Though the gay community has taken ownership of the rainbow symbol over the past 3 decades, the relationship of the rainbow and diversity/acceptance goes back to the sixties with the Rainbow Family (and possibly earlier).

I believe that when we create divisions between the inhabitants of the earth we open ourselves up to the possibility of becoming disrespectful and downright violent towards another earthling and even the planet itself.

Over the years I have lost customers over my opinion on certain issues. Probably the one issue that punches people’s buttons the most is the gay/lesbian issue. Most business owners choose to not take sides or to comment on controversial issues. They don’t wish to turn off a customers or potential customer – I see them forsaking their beliefs for profit. I don’t do that.

There is now a rainbow flag flying on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton (I had raised one above the old space for a short period of time several years ago). I am proud that Canada, with all of its shortcomings can be a model that other countries try to emulate on this issue – though we who live here know that we have a long way to go – as in the recent case of Argentina.

We are all earthlings, humans, male or female, tall or short, hetro or homo, etc – we have no control over these aspects of who we are but we do have a choice to be accepting, to be good or bad, to be nice or mean. More people need to make healthier choices for the planet and society.