Pride Toronto rejects comments by guest on Rob and Doug Ford radio show

7 May, 2011 (Toronto) – Yesterday, a guest on (Toronto Mayor) Rob and (Toronto City Councillor) Doug Ford’s radio show made comments that promote and rekindle old prejudices that the LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities have fought for decades to combat.

After good-faith efforts to acquaint the Fords with our communities, Pride Toronto is disappointed that these homophobic comments were aired unchallenged. These comments demonstrate the continued need for Pride as a celebration of our communities and cultures, and a space for proud expression of who we are.

Planning is well underway for a successful 2012 Pride Toronto Festival, which celebrates the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto’s LGBTTIQQ2SA communities. This goal is clearly as important today as it has ever been.

Toronto residents deserve confirmation that their elected officials likewise support acceptance and celebration of our communities, and in particular do not cling to past negative stereotypes about LGBTTIQQ2SA people or people living with HIV/AIDS.

Moreover, Pride Toronto stands in solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS against bigotry and intolerance directed at them, and calls upon our elected officials to do the same.

About Pride Toronto

Pride Toronto is the not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual event in downtown Toronto during the last week of June. Pride Week is one of the premier arts and cultural festivals in Canada. It is also one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world with an estimated attendance of over 1.2 million people. It celebrates the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto's LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities.

  * Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, 2 Spirited, Allies

Pride Toronto Flag Raising at City Hall (sans Mayor)

Let's Make Pride History Together

Pride Toronto

&  

Toronto City Hall

Cordially invites Everyone to the Flag Raising

&  

Unveiling of the Painting

"Toronto City Hall"

By Artist George MacIntyre

Date:  Mon. June 27, 2011

Time: 12 noon

Location:  Toronto City Hall (Front Entrance)

Special Guests:

The Legendary Michelle Du Barry, Past Grand Marshall

&  

Mrs. Phyllis (MacIntyre) Goldsmith

Sister of the artist from Moncton, New Brunswick

Have A Wonderful Happy Pride 2011

ALL CAN! Community conversations with Pride Toronto board applicants

I received an invitation to this event and I thought it was an interesting follow up to the earlier post about the new appointment of Chad Simon to the Pride Toronto board.


An all-candidates-style discussion with those who want to join Pride Toronto's board of directors, hosted by Janne Farrow.


Join the Pride Coalition for Free Speech and Xtra as we get to know future Pride Toronto board members and quiz them in an all-candidates meeting format.

Public. Transparent. Accountable.

We all want a strong, vibrant Pride. Be part of the solution.

Another Pride Toronto Judgement Error.

In a story by Scott Dagostino Xtra.ca reports another misstep by Pride Toronto;

"After enduring months of harsh criticism that it is unresponsive to the queer communities it serves — particularly from black and trans groups — Pride Toronto has baffled supporters and critics alike by abruptly appointing a new board member, who quickly came under fire for transphobic comments he made in 2008."

"It is standard practice in board governance to try to fill a vacancy as soon as possible or at the next scheduled AGM. This is why the timing of the appointment is now of concern... Open and transparent governance is what the community is expecting and what I have been suggesting since the sign-vetting debate."  Writer- David Demchuk

On the surface of it it would appear Pride Toronto has made yet another error in judgment and had appointed Chad Simon to the board without much due diligence. If the position has been vacant all year, I don't see why the big rush to fill the seat with someone as reportedly uninvolved and ill informed as Mr. Simon before the AGM unless you are attempting to stack the board for some reason.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Pride Toronto to no longer restrict language in the Parade

Pride Toronto has announced that its recent resolution to restrict the use of certain language during the 2010 Parade has been replaced by the requirement that each participating group read, sign and agree to abide by the City of Toronto's Declaration of a Non-Discrimination Policy, and that all groups that uphold this policy are welcome to participate in the 2010 Pride Parade.

During a meeting between members of the board of directors, the executive director and well respected LGBT community leaders Pastor Brent Hawkes of the Metropolitan Community Church, human rights lawyer and Pride Lifetime Achievement award winner Doug Elliott, and 519 Executive Director Maura Lawless, the board unanimously voted in favour of a proposal presented by the three.

Cyndi Lauper to perform free concert a Queens Park for Toronto Pride

Cyndi Lauper, one of the world's most recognized Queer icons, comes to Toronto on Saturday, July 3 2010 for a FREE concert in Queen's Park.

An unwavering advocate for LGBTTIQQ2SA* rights, Cyndi Lauper established herself as a household name with the 1983 single "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", kicking off a long career which includes more than 25 million in record sales and nominations for 13 Grammy awards, 2 Emmy awards, 2 American Music Awards, 7 American Video Awards and 18 MTV awards.

Her most recent album "Bring Ya To The Brink" affirmed her international pop diva status, even more so amongst her LGBT fans, who were featured prominently in the music video for her #1 single, "Into The Nightlife".

"It's an honor to always have the genuine affection of the gay community," Cyndi says. "They have never turned their back on me and I will never turn my back on them. We've had a long and enduring love affair."

In 2007, Lauper created the True Colors Tour, bringing together artists like Erasure, The B-52s, the Indigo Girls, Deborah Harry and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to raise public awareness about issues facing the LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities. A year later, she founded the True Colors Fund to inspire and engage everyone-particularly those in the straight community-to become involved in the advancement of equality.

We Tour America Scam?

The following is a message I received from Tracey Sandilands of Pride Toronto:

I also found some other sites complaining about We Tour America.

Complaintsboard.com

Rip Off Report

If you entered a competition during Pride Week with a company called We Tour America, please be warned! I've been told by someone who participated that it appears to be a scam to get hold of credit card numbers. I'm investigating and will keep you posted, but let me assure you there is no link with Pride Toronto - any such competitions were being promoted without our knowledge and purely on a private basis.

If anyone has additional information on this company or the competition, please let me know.

Thanks and regards
Tracey Sandilands

Ottawa reviewing 'value' from Pride funds

The federal cabinet minister now responsible for giving Pride Week any new money said the government is reviewing the program to see what "value for money" it gives taxpayers.

Industry Minister Tony Clement told reporters that it's "appropriate" to review the Marquee Tourism Events Program after its first year, a review he suggested had nothing to do with its controversial sponsorship of Toronto's gay pride parade.

"We always want to make sure that we have value for taxpayer money," he told reporters at the G8 summit.

A Conservative MP suggested in an interview published this week that the program was pulled from the junior minister for small business and tourism, Diane Ablonczy, because she provided $400,000 for Pride Week — to the shock and dismay of her Conservative caucus colleagues and the social conservatives that back the party. Full Story at Thestar.com

I guess the million + tourists aren't spending enough for Harper and his fascist pigs in Ottawa.

Gay Pride cash may have led to demotion of MP

A Conservative MP says federal funding for Toronto's Gay Pride parade may be responsible for junior cabinet minister Diane Ablonczy losing a key part of her portfolio.

Brad Trost, the MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt, said Ablonczy's decision to use $400,000 for the popular parade that celebrates homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered culture was not supported by most of the Tory caucus.

Trost told the anti-abortion website LifeSiteNews.com that the decision surprised the Conservative cabinet and the Prime Minister's Office.

He said that responsibility for the Marquee Tourism Events Program, a $100 million initiative, has been given to another cabinet minister. The two-year program helps fund major tourism events such as the Calgary Stampede, which received nearly $2 million or Ottawa's Bluesfest, which took about $1.5 million from the program.

Industry Minister Tony Clement has taken over the program, his office confirmed.  Full Story at CTV.CA

Obviously the Harper Conservatives are still making up their own rules as they go along and are not interested in getting elected in Toronto.  Wherever you are please do NOT vote for these pigs who have no interest in equal rights!

No Pride at City Hall

Pride week is underway, but due to the city workers strike the pride flag won't be flying at city hall this year.  

Here's a shot of the CUPE members "working for us" this afternoon. I have to say as far as picketing goes these guys are pretty pathetic. No chant, no rallying cry, not even any walking around carrying signs. Just hiding in the shade and enjoying the beautiful weather.  

How can we be so mean to these poor, unfortunate and hard done by city workers? There obviously is no god!

Pride at the ROM

I noticed this banner at the Royal Ontario Museum today on Bloor St. as I was on my way to Queens Park for the rally protesting the Iranian election.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Tonight was the kick off for Pride Week Toronto 2009. The Toronto Star has a special section for Pride. This year's theme is; Can't Stop, Won't Stop.

Happy Pride everyone! 

Follow the link below for the full story...

It has been 40 years since Canada decriminalized homosexuality, setting the stage for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. But the battle continues

It was the spring of 1969 and Pierre Elliott Trudeau's landmark bill – which the then justice minister defended with the famous declaration, "There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation" – was a hot topic in the national news.

The passage of Canada's Criminal Law Amendment Act – which, among other things, decriminalized homosexuality – loomed much larger than the New York Stonewall riots, which happened in September of that same year, recalls long-time Toronto activist Tim McCaskell  Read the rest of the story The Star.com