Hamilton councillor speaks out after receiving threats and homophobic attacks

A Hamilton city councillor is speaking out after he says he’s been the target of ongoing personal attacks and threats to his safety.

Ward 2 Coun. Cameron Kroetsch says people have used hate speech and homophobic slurs against him — often anonymously but in some cases, it’s happening right out in the open.

Kroetsch says he expects criticism from the public for his decisions as an elected politician,  but he won’t tolerate personal attacks or hate speech.

“When you start coming at me personally, start using homophobic slurs, start using the kind of language that’s been used to describe the mayor, that totally crosses the line,” he said.

Kroetsch says he posted a 1,200-word letter on social media on Sunday, which outlines some of his concerns including emails filled with stigmatizing, hurtful language and outright hate.

“Most of it comes in anonymously,” Kroetsch said. “Someone published [my] home address on social media.”

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Kroetsch said at a neighbourhood meeting in Durand, someone said “they’d come find [me] outside after the event, stating ‘they knew where [I] lived.’”

He said a well-known member of the development community harassed him in the street — the first time following him, another time yelling at him in front of dozens of people.

Kroetsch also directly calls out a local man’s use of a homophobic slur to refer to him on social media — the one that starts with the letter “F.”

Hamilton resident Dan Myles has been interviewed by CHCH News and many other media outlets before related to his extensive use of security cameras on his home, the city’s attempt to have him remove the cameras and Hamilton police’s use of some of his surveillance videos in their investigations.

He also previously announced plans to run against Kroetsch for Ward 2 councillor in next year’s municipal election.

“Oh absolutely I can say whatever I want whenever I want to,” he said.

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Myles says he’s not concerned about his language being offensive to gay people.

“I have gay friends. I have gay people that come by here all the time. They wave, they say hello so he’s just hiding behind something, that’s all,” Myles said. “The actual problems and agendas include misspending of millions of dollars – this is all you have to hide behind?”

In another post critiqued by Kroetsch, Myles criticizes the city’s tiny shelter project for the homeless and replaced Mayor Andrea Horwath’s last name with another offensive word.

Horwath says as a woman politician, she doesn’t think she would be working in her role if she were subject to read hateful speech.

“People deserve to live their lives in this community without hate and to feel safe.” she said.

Kroetsch says he hopes his post helps more Hamiltonians realize that hate speech is being used to target not just him, but many members of the community, including women, racialized communities and other groups in Hamilton.

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