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Mayor Dianne Haskett of London, Ontario, has stood up for her Christian convictions despite criticism and a $10,000 fine for refusing to proclaim a Gay Pride weekend. ...The Ontario Human Rights Commission called Haskett before a tribunal last year to explain why she had refused to implement its ruling requiring her to make a declaration in support of the weekend. Haskett, a committed evangelical who is a member of London's Metropolitan United Church, said the ruling violated her freedom of speech and conscience under Canada's constitution in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. ...Haskett instituted a policy in 1995 banning proclamations related to abortion, homosexuality, heterosexuality, or celibacy after receiving word that the Homophile Association of London, Ontario, or HALO, would seek a gay pride proclamation. She told the commission that endorsing abortion or homosexuality would be "turning my back on God and I can't do that. The day I turn my back on God is the day I lose my authority as the mayor of London." ...The tribunal fined Haskett and the city $10,000, which must be paid to Richard Hudler, former president of HALO. It ordered the city to issue gay-pride proclamations when asked, to "make a statement of recognition that the lesbian and gay and bisexual communities are integral and important communities within the City of London," and to "make a commitment to investigate ways of fostering a positive relationship between the City of London and the gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities." The city council voted not to appeal the commission's decision after "an hour of emotional debate behind closed doors," news reports said. ...While the city council was announcing it would not appeal the fine, Haskett was campaigning for re-election, with the vote three weeks away. She refused to implement the commission's order, and instead took a three-week leave of absence to allow the council to do so. Before leaving, she transferred her mayoral duties to Grant Hopcroft, deputy mayor and her opponent in the race. Haskett made no public appearances for three weeks, saying it would be unfair to campaign while Hopcroft was busy running the city. ..."I never advocated discrimination and I never discriminated," Haskett said in a statement protesting the tribunal's ruling. "I had a policy that allowed me to remain silent on issues of deep personal conviction, so that I would neither force those values on the community nor be forced to compromise them...I have never advocated discrimination against gays and lesbians, many of whom have been my clients, my tenants, my colleagues, and my friends. I do not judge or condemn. And I am not angry or bitter at HALO or any members of it for what I have had to go through to maintain my right to choose what I will say and what I will not say. ..."I have never interfered with the activities of this group, as evidenced by the Pride celebrations that go on very openly each year. But at the same time, I am not prepared to be, now or in the future, the advocate for this organization or its agenda. I will not bow down to the ruling of the Human Rights Commission and I am willing to bear any consequences of that." ...Hopcroft announced his support for a Gay Pride weekend, and the race became a referendum on the issue. Newspapers characterized Haskett as intolerant, bigoted, and a disgrace to the city, and The London Free Press described her decision to step down as bizarre. "At the risk of repeating bromides about people who can't stand the heat getting out of the kitchen and what the tough do when the going gets tough, what is she thinking?" the newspaper said. ...But 400 people marched to City Hall to show their support. "Diane has earned our respect for the kind of person we know her to be," businessman Randy Collins told the crowd, the Free Press reported. "Integrity of her kind is all too rare in people in political life." He said Haskett had kept her political promises. Another supporter told the crowd that Haskett is a decisive leader who has remained true to her principles. ...Haskett won the election by a two-to-one majority on Nov. 10. She defeated Hopcroft 63.6% to 31% in one of the largest turnouts in a London municipal election in recent years. She credited God for her victory, and said it was "a gift from the people of London." She won strong support "not only from the evangelical Christian community, but from other faith groups and the broader community for her principled stands on a variety of moral and social issues and her efforts to promote reconciliation among different parts of the community," Christian Week reported.