Hamilton will look at setting up 'positive space' for LGBTQ community, says mayor

Hamilton's mayor says the city will look at the setting up a "positive space" for the LGBTQ community following a meeting between him and representatives of community groups affected by hate.

It's the first outcome from a pair ofclosed-door meetings abouttaking on hatethat has been publicly discussed.

Fred Eisenbergerexplainedthe city will be "looking at the feasibility of creating some sort of positive space in our community for the queerand trans community," though it wasn't clear whether that would involved an existing facility or a new, specificsite.

But, despite the proposal, at least one meeting attendee said he found the topics covered did little to address the "violence in recent months" and made it seem as though "Pride didn't happen."

The mayortabledthe positive spaceidea during a Wednesday-morning meeting he saidincluded leaders from the black, Muslim, Jewish and LGBTQcommunities, as well as representatives ofB'Nai Brith and the Social Planning & Research Council.

In a media release he addedthe sit down was aimed at working to"inclusion, diversity and acceptance" and that it raised "possible solutions and innovative ideas."

Two members of the city's LGBTQ advisory committee were in attendance for the first time, after the group voted to send members during its own meeting Tuesday night.

In athreadof posts on Twittercommittee chair Cameron Kroetsch said the meeting wasn't what he expected.

Kroetsch described the sit down as a "planning session" for the mayor's hate summit, noting he hadn't been given an agenda in advance and the only item that "even attempted to contemplate the violence in recent months" was the suggestion about a positive space.

"It's as if Pride didn't happen and that 'those issues'were 'too specific'to be addressed today," he wrote, adding he found that "deeply troubling."

For his part, Eisenberger said he was thankful Kroetsch and his committee colleague decided to come out.

"There were obviously some in the queer and trans community that had difficulty with this ...and they actually attended today which I am grateful for."

There was some positiveresponse to the meeting.

Gustavo Rymberg, CEO of the Hamilton Jewish Federation, also attended and said while there were some "challenges" from some people in the room there were no "bad comments or intentions."

Noting the rate hate crimes targeting the Jewish community isincreasing, Rymberg said he felt the meeting offered an open dialogue and a good representation of the community and its concerns.

"It's very optimistic. We are all around the table. The big thing is concrete plans and that's what the city is trying to promote."

The mayor said the meeting was simply a "formative discussion" and there are plans for the group to gather again in the future to continue working toward long-term goals and better relationships.

He addedeveryone had a chance to participateand no one stormed out.

"We don't want to create confrontation, but we want to have a dialogue, conversation and ultimately some outcomes everyone can appreciate and get behind," added Eisenberger.

The chair said he called on the mayor to focus on transparency and accountability moving forward.

"What happened at Pride, his reaction and responses, and the conduct of police all still need to be addressed directly," tweeted Kroetsch.

Some have criticized the mayor and city for arranging closed-door meetings that are invite-only. Eisenberger said he's aware of those concerns, but said the set up is more about creating an environment where people can say whatever they need to without worry.

"There's no intention of keeping deep and dark secrets. There's every intention of having a fulsome discussion and all of it heading toward full public meetings down the road."