Editorial Comment:

The decision by the Royal Bank of Canada to reverse their questionable "Safe Space" Rainbow sticker program, in no uncertain measure reflects the pressure placed upon the Royal Bank by Canadian social conservative political groups and organizations.

The Christian Coalition International Canada issued an e-mail (reproduced below) defending the Constitutional and Charter Rights of bank employees to not be subjected to this type of social coercion.

We know this e-mail made its way into the bank's employee workforce, was circulated widely, and was very instrumental in raising employee awareness of the civil rights issues involved in this coercive gay and lesbian campaign.

In addition, Canada Christian College President, Dr. Charles McVety, issued a call for a boycott against the Royal Bank of Canada to protest the effort of the Royal Bank to modify employee values concerning homosexuality and associated manifestations.

Christian Coalition International Canada members and Dr. McVety can be proud of their effectiveness in defending the rights of Royal Bank of Canada employees not to be subjected to a political values re-orientation campaign initiated by the special interest group within the Royal Bank of Canada.

CCIC Inc. particularly thanks Ms. Judi McLeod of Canada Free Press.Com for this victory for democracy and Constitutional Rights, whose reporting brought the Royal Bank's "Safe Space" Program to the attention of the world.

CCIC Inc.

Royal Bank of Canada Reverses Gay Pride Rainbow Sticker Plan after Boycott

OTTAWA, October 15, 2004 - The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has reversed a decision advocating that employees, as a sign of solidarity with their homosexual coworkers, display gay-pride rainbow stickers at their workstations.

In a company newsletter in September, RBC launched a sexual orientation campaign requesting its employees to "be supportive" of "gay, lesbian and bisexual issues," by displaying a rainbow coloured triangle at their workstations. The first issue of the company's "Rainbow Space" newsletter, suggested their purpose was to "highlight the importance of sexual preference as one of RBC's primary diversity elements."

A boycott launched by the Canada Christian College President, Charles McVety may be a big part of the reason for the reversal. Charles McVety told CCN news that he believed 300,000 people had boycotted the bank, producing "an overwhelming effect" on the Bank. "This goes to show that if people take a stand for what is right, it has an impact," he added.

"Any time someone boycotts us, it's a concern," RBC Senior Vice President David Moorcroft said, "But that's not the reason we made the decision."

Source: Life Site News
(Abridged)