Ontario politicians want rainbow flag up during Sochi Games

Mayor Rob Ford may want to take down the rainbow flag at Toronto City Hall, but just up the street provincial politicians are ready to raise the flag at the Ontario legislature for the remainder of the Olympic Games.

The rainbow flag — a long-standing symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and pride — has been raised at various city halls and municipal buildings across Canada in a sign of solidarity after Russia passed an anti-gay law.

Mayor Ford said last week that he wanted the flag taken down because the Olympics "is not about someone's sexual preference."

But at Queen's Park, party house leaders for the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats have agreed to ask the Speaker for permission to raise the rainbow flag at the legislature.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says Ontario's strength is its multicultural society, and the Olympics are an opportunity "to demonstrate our tolerance, diversity and respect human rights on an international stage."

Wynne's office says she does not support intolerance of any group regardless of their faith or identity, and she rejects the Russian government's discriminatory laws.

The Ontario legislature isn't sitting right now, so it may take another couple of days for officials to get everything in place before the rainbow flag is raised at Queen's Park.