All signs must be vetted with us first: Pride Toronto
TORONTO NEWS / UPDATE, Mar 14: Pride Toronto releases parade terms
Cate Simpson, updated by Xtra staff / National / Thursday, March 11, 2010
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UPDATE, Mar 16, 7:30 am: The Don't sanitize Pride facebook group appraoches 1,100 members. Check back here later today for an update on this story.

UPDATE, Mar 14, 7am: Pride Toronto posted its Terms and Conditions of Participation document online yesterday, as the Don't sanitize Pride: Free expression must prevail facebook group surpassed 700 members.  

"Everyone who thinks this is 'censorship' should take note that none of this is anything new," wrote Sandilands on Facebook. "Last year, Parade entrants' messaging had to be approved by the Parade Committee. The only thing that has changed is that there will be a committee set up that includes community members who will do this in a more organized fashion.

"The real purpose of this is to ensure that if someone turns up with real hate messaging - which has happened before in the history of Pride Toronto - that the mechanisms are in place to remove them and we don't all stand helplessly by. Its not about preventing freedom of speech at any time. It's about being proactive to ensure the measures are in place to protect everyone that takes part and everyone that comes to watch."

But Xtra has noted no notable cases of homophobic violence, or even anti-gay protests, during Pride in Toronto in recent years. Nor has Xtra noted any movement among gay and lesbian people (other than by Pride Toronto) to limit free expression in Toronto's Pride parade. 

Rick Telfer, one of the administrators on the Don't sanitize Pride Facebook group, responded to Sandilands there: 

Tracey Sandilands, Executive Director of Pride Toronto Inc., has responded to recent concerns about censorship in the 2010 Toronto Pride Parade. She writes: "As usual there is a lot of misinformation being circulated. [...] Everyone who thinks this is 'censorship' should take note that none of this is anything new. The only thing that has changed is that there will be a committee set up that includes community members who will do this in a more organized fashion."

Revellers get into the mood during Pride Toronto in 2009.
(Nicola Betts)
Unfortunately, Ms. Sandilands omits a very pertinent fact. Namely, Point 7 in the Terms and Conditions is in fact new this year. It reads: "The Applicant agrees to present in writing all messaging and signage developed and planned for use in the Parade for approval by Pride Toronto by June 18th, 2010. Any messaging and signage that does not receive the organization's approval or that receives a clear refusal will not be permitted in the Parade."

Also relevant is the fact that this new policy emerged in the context of a debate about the presence in the parade of particular political/activist causes and messages involving many members of the LGBTQ community. Despite this truth, Ms. Sandilands claims that the "real purpose [...] is to ensure that if someone turns up with real hate messaging [...] that the mechanisms are in place to remove them."

Are we really supposed to believe that Point 7 is all about preventing "hate"? Is "hate" not already illegal? Would the community not already fully support the removal of "hate"?

Seemingly lost on Ms. Sandilands and Pride Toronto Inc. is the fact that Point 7 is wide open to interpretation and, therefore, abuse. Freedom of expression is at risk. Undoubtedly we can all agree that "hate" is unacceptable and unwelcome. But Point 7 does not refer to "hate" and "hate" remains undefined. Furthermore, the logisitics of pre-approval will be incredibly laborious and frustrating.

It appears that the new policy -- being as open-ended and all-encompassing as it is -- could empower Pride Toronto Inc. to limit freedom of expression within the Toronto Pride Parade. The policy could very well embolden those within Pride Toronto Inc. to deny signage that some find politically disagreeable -- and not merely hateful. Indeed, perhaps this is the real purpose of Point 7.

So, who are we trying to please? Corporate sponsors? Lobby groups?

You are strongly encouraged to e-mail Ms. Sandilands and all members of the board of directors of Pride Toronto Inc. You can reach them via:

daniel-knox@pridetoronto.com,
francisco-alvarez@pridetoronto.com,
gaya-arasaratnam@pridetoronto.com,
genevieve-diorio@pridetoronto.com,
helen-kennedy@pridetoronto.com,
jim-cullen@pridetoronto.com,
margaret-ngai@pridetoronto.com,
mark-singh@pridetoronto.com,
selma-dsouza@pridetoronto.com,
tracey@pridetoronto.com

Just copy and paste these addresses and send your message. Pride Toronto Inc. needs to hear that we do not support the new requirement for pre-approval, that we support freedom of expression to the greatest reasonable extent, and that Pride belongs to us -- not to an "Ethics Committee", not to corporate sponsors, and not to external lobby groups. Your message need not be lengthy.

SAMPLE:

I am writing to express my opposition to Pride Toronto Inc.'s
new pre-approval policy pertaining to messaging and signage
in the Pride Parade. Pride Toronto Inc. must uphold freedom
of expression to the greatest possible extent. Point 7 will
pose serious logistical problems for many participants and
is much too susceptible to misuse and abuse. Political
expression is the origin of Toronto Pride. Members of the
LGBTQ community must be permitted to maintain that tradition
in all of their diversity.

Sincerely,
Rick Telfer
 

UPDATE, Mar 13, 1pm: As the Don't sanitize Pride Facebook group nears 650 members, Pride Toronto executive director Tracey Sandilands tweeted this morning, "Lots of misinformation and lies being spread again. Parade terms will be online by end of Mon. After that questions can be asked #PrideTO."

UPDATE, Mar 12, 4pm: More than 400 people have joined the Facebook group Don't sanitize Pride: Free expression must prevail since it was created on Thursday afternoon.

Pride Toronto tweeted Friday afternoon: "New #PrideTO Parade + Dyke March terms + conditions to be rlsed Mon. eve, if u still have questions, email our ED tracey@pridetoronto.com"

***

Mar 11: All groups participating in this year's Pride Parade and Dyke March must have their signs approved by Pride Toronto, the organization announced yesterday.

In a press release, Pride Toronto co-chair Jim Cullen wrote that all messages must "support the theme of the 2010 festival, celebrating '30 Years of Pride in Toronto.'"

The move has sparked outrage from activists who see this is a further attempt by Pride Toronto to distance itself from its political roots and as an indirect attack on the involvement of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA), whose dustup with Pride made mainstream headlines at last year's festival.
 
"It's pretty surprising to see Pride Toronto invested in an active moulding of the types of participation they want to see in the Parade," says Natalie Kouri-Towe, a member of QuAIA who marched with the group last year.

"I can only imagine this is a response to the targeting Pride received last year against the supposed ban of QuAIA from the Parade."

Reports in 2009 suggested Pride might prevent the QuAIA from marching. Pride insisted that they only required QuAIA to register before marching, and ultimately they were allowed to participate. But their involvement has drawn criticism from Zionist groups, and there is a suspicion among queer activists that this new policy is an attempt to stem future controversy.

Gary Kinsman, one of the founders of the original Pride Day in Toronto and a former active member of the Simon Nkodi Anti-Apartheid Committee that campaigned against apartheid in South Africa, expressed serious concern at Pride's announcement.

"I'm really quite disturbed about this," says Kinsman. "That [Pride has] new types of criteria that can be used to bar people — rather than welcoming people into our movements to express their political views, as long as they're not expressing hatred or bigotry, it's a bit frightening."

Kinsman also expressed alarm at the vagueness of Pride Toronto's criteria for determining what messages are acceptable.

"The only requirement that I could see is that [signs] must conform to the theme. If that's interpreted in a narrow sense, that could affect other groups within our liberation movements who are raising issues and concerns that don't in a narrow way relate to the theme for that particular year," he says.

Pride Toronto co-chair Jim Cullen refused to give specific examples of signage that would either meet or violate the terms of the new policy. Despite stating in the press release that the new policy was a response to community feedback, Cullen declined to comment on specific feedback that had informed Pride's decisions.

"The policy was not based on any particular word or group," he says.

In response to a question about whether there have been past incidents of groups carrying signs that incite violence or hate, Cullen said, "No comment."

Cullen added, "We're trying to focus on the future, not on reviewing what's already been done."

But with Pride Toronto organizers tightlipped, activist groups were left to wonder what the fallout might be.

QuAIA member Chelsey Lichtman suggests that the new policy might have broad implications, not just for her organization but for other groups.

"It's an interesting move to essentially dictate what people are allowed to march about in a Pride parade. It's almost a form of silencing. People wait all year for Pride to be able to be political in such an open and public way. That's what Pride is about," Lichtman says.

The policy is ostensibly to prevent groups from marching in Pride whose intention is to promote discrimination or hate. But, as Kouri-Towe points out, this has not historically been a problem in the parade.

"The reality is that hate groups are not participating. There hasn't been a context for this," she says.

"[It seems] they are responding to the suggestion that QuAIA are a hate group ... There's nothing we did last year that was deemed hate speech. The police and Pride Toronto looked at our banners last year, and people from Pride celebrated afterwards that we had participated in a very peaceful way."

Despite the new rules, Lichtman insists that QuAIA will still march this year:

"If they want banners that say something about the 30th Anniversary of Pride, we're going to follow the rules. There's no reason why we won't march. We're just going to have to get clever about it."



Read the full text of Pride Toronto's press release below:

* * *

10 March 2010
 
Pride Toronto focuses on celebrating 30 years in Parade

New terms of participation include staying on theme

Toronto, ON

This week Pride Toronto unveiled revised terms and conditions for groups applying to participate in the 2010 Parade and Dyke March. As part of Pride's efforts to respond to community feedback, participating groups will be asked to ensure that messages support the theme of the 2010 festival, celebrating "30 Years of Pride" in Toronto.

Pride has worked diligently to manage significant increases in attendance and activities over recent years, while ensuring the festival maintains a strong connection with the local community.

"In reaching out to the community, we have received exciting feedback on many topics over the past year," said Jim Cullen, Co-Chair of Pride Toronto's Board of Directors. "Our community sees Pride as a celebration of who we are and how far we have come. So we're asking all parade participants to focus on that."

In past years, Parade participants were asked to agree to non-discrimination policies and act in a manner supportive of the celebration of Pride.

Similar to policies already in place for other major Pride festivals, Pride Toronto will now require all Pride Parade and Dyke March participants ensure their messages support the theme of the year's festival. Participating groups must agree to avoid any messages that promote violence or hatred and to have their messages and signage approved by the Ethics Committee of Pride Toronto in advance of the event. Groups who fail to cooperate with the new practices will be denied permission to take part or removed from the line-up if necessary.

"We are promoting freedom of expression and diversity in a way that is positive and supportive of our community. We hope to include everybody who wants to participate," said Cullen. "We encourage all Parade groups to respect the spirit of celebration and inclusion that the Pride Parade represents."

Pride Toronto begins accepting applications to participate in the 2010 Pride Parade and Dyke March on March 15th. Interested groups are encouraged to visit pridetoronto.com for information and application forms.

About Pride Toronto:
Pride Toronto is the not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual festival held during the first weekend of July in downtown Toronto. Pride Toronto exists to celebrate the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto's LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities and is one of the leading cultural events of its kind in the world with a total economic benefit in 2009 of $136 million.

Toronto's Pride Week has previously been named Best Festival in Canada by the Canadian Special Events Industry and is recognized as one of only eight Signature Events in the City of Toronto. It is ranked one of the TOP 50 festivals in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) as well as one of the 18 Marquee Festivals of Distinction in Canada. With attendance of over 1,2 million, it is the third largest Pride celebration in the world and the largest in North America. http://www.pridetoronto.com


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Reader Comments


 
Well...
the obvious solution is to have tearaway signs. Last time I checked, the parade belongs to the participants, not the organizers. Perhaps a sign that says: '30 Years of Pride, 41 years of gradually forgetting the lessons of Stonewall'?
Tim, Kingston Ontario
03/11/10 5:16 PM EST
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The Ethics Committee is a facade
Anyone who's been involved with Pride knows most groups get their contingents together at the last possible minute. Does anyone think the Ethics Committee will have time to approve all the signs of all these last minute contingents right at the height of Pride's own organizational crunch time? This is clearly meant for selective enforcement, and Pride clearly has an agenda. This Ethics committee is just a cover for Pride's motives.
ben, toronto ontario
03/11/10 6:34 PM EST
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Hmm
I don't agree with lichtman that we should just be clever about it. That in a sense means we automatically capitulate to these dictatorial tactics (and no, i don't think that word is unwarranted here). These are the times when civil disobedience is called for. This is completely unacceptable.
fruit_loopz, Toronto ON
03/11/10 6:43 PM EST
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Facebook Group Created
There has now been a facebook group set up to protest the decision of Toronto Pride to sanitize the Pride Parade and limit freedom of expression. You can join by going to the link below. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=352762041138&ref=nf
JJ, Toronto Ontario
03/11/10 7:02 PM EST
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Originating Documents
Pride's source documents (the ones that give it charitable status) states that Pride exists to celebrate the Queer Community in Toronto. ANything else is out of bounds and while issues have been allowed outside this Charter for decades, certain groups with no queer connection have simply added the word "Queer" to their group, and have taken up foreign political issues that are in no way whatsoever connected with anything queer at all. PRIDE COMMITTEE: thank you for reading your Charter and taken steps to ensurer all of us can attend without fear.
Brian, Toronto ON
03/11/10 7:31 PM EST
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Shame on Pride
If you banned any group that didn't focus solely on LGBT issues, the Pride parade would be mostly empty. Every contingent has a different issue, identity, or campaign that they are supporting in addition to supporting queer rights. If you want to ban groups that have nothing to do with LGBT issues, why not start with the corporate sponsors that just slap a rainbow on their logo once a year?
Paul, Toronto ON
03/11/10 7:45 PM EST
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worrisome
Pride belongs to the people not the organizers, I can't understand the justification for this unless its intent is to silence certain political views during the parade. Censorship should have no place at such an event as Pride, yet they claim "We are promoting freedom of expression and diversity". How does this new policy support freedom of expression when its stated goal is to ban any group that does not express itself according their rules? In regards to Brian's post "Originating Documents" please explain how someone expressing a point of view that you disagree with can cause fear? if you are so weak minded that seeing signs with political messages you disagree with fills you with fear how do you manage to survive in such a diverse city as Toronto? Disagreeing with someone's political views is no reason to ban them from participating in Pride, considering the way censorship has been used against us its disturbing that it should be embraced by any LGBT person let alone an organization like Toronto Pride who really should know better. If they were faced with funding cuts for allowing certain political expression they should've done the right thing and accepted the cuts, Pride should be more about principals than money, it was a truly great event before the corporations got involved and it can be again without them or any other funding group. This new policy is just plain wrong and an embrassment to Toronto Pride.
Rich, Toronto Ontario
03/11/10 9:52 PM EST
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No to increasing corporatization/regulation
This is yet another outrage from our corporate dominated Pride Toronto. They have no understanding of the deep roots LGBT activism in the real community (not corporations or commercial entities) and the need in Pride for political expression and even protest against real or perceived inequalities as the participants themselves see it (not the Committee or corporate sponsors), And what does the theme -30 Years of Pride-mean? Nothing at all if Pride participants are made to conform to the dictates or whims of a politically correct committee. Still as a QuIAIA activist says above, a cleverly done sign will incorporate the vague theme they want (something as simple as Happy 30th!! along with any political message, hopefully including a protest against the increasing regulation, commercialization & corporatization of Pride itself.
james Dubro, toronto ontaro
03/12/10 8:31 AM EST
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Disturbing
So an "Ethics" committee is going to decide what we are proud of? Where can I find a statement from this Ethics committee so that I can determine what I should be proud of? In my opinion censorship of any sort is unacceptable. How sad to see this from Pride. It is both disturbing and unacceptable. It does not stretch credibility at all to see this attitude advance over the coming years to the formation of a Morality Committee and other such nonsense. Pride is about celebration and freedom, not repression. It was once about politics, for many it still is. For most it's a party and parties are meant to be enjoyed, not censored. I hope Pride backs away from this narrow minded attempt to control a message and chooses to leave Ethics as an abstract concept that varies with the individual. We are not all cut out of the sheet with a cookie cutter, nor should we be. Above all else, we should be free to express our own views openly at a celebration meant for us. Those who don't agree with those views should feel free to disagree. We have managed to get a very long way without an Ethics committee. In my experience, committees can be reliably counted on to one thing, instantly form a sub-committee. Another case in point.
Peter Bochove, Toronto Ontario
03/12/10 1:25 PM EST
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30 years of shame?
Not only are increasingly conservative and censorious initiatives coming out of Pride, but it's creating some disturbing precedents. Case in point, this year's Pride parade was delayed one week in deference to the G20 meeting, already being dubbed as "the largest security event in Canadian history". Looked forward to human rights abuses on par with the Vancouver Olympics. With its bowing to the demands of an event largely considered to represent the worst aspects of government and corporate repression, it kind of makes sense that Pride organizers would adopt cop security-style tactics. It's becoming increasingly clear to many of us that we need to reclaim Pride - make it smaller, repoliticize it, take it back, and make it ours, instead of the sanitized show for camera-wielding tourists it's become.
Marusya Bociurkiw, Toronto Ont
03/12/10 1:32 PM EST
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Hmmm....
Sounds like the time is arriving for an anti-pride parade... an alternate Pride Parade. The "end of gay" is upon us and the political reasons for "pride" have vanished with the new generation.
David Silvercloud, Vancouver BC
03/13/10 5:53 AM EST
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good
I think Pride Toronto made the right decision. They haven't censored or sanitized anything, they've taken the appropriate step to minimize the impact of those who wish to co-opt Pride with their own political agendas. I'm sick of groups that have made no contribution to our community trying to steal the show. Nobody would come to the event if it was all about fringe movements trying to voice their grievances on issues that don't at all resonate with ordinary queer Torontonians/Canadians. If you organized a party, you wouldn't want party crashers exploiting your hard work either. And no I don't work for Pride or have any connection to the organization.
Ryan, Toronto ON
03/13/10 6:19 AM EST
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Really?
People like Tim McCaskell, Richard Fung, and Gary Kinsman have made "no contribution to our community"? Read a book. You could start with Kinsman's book. Learn how censorship has been used against our community historically. Then tell us what contributions you've made to our community.
Alex, Toronto Ontario
03/13/10 8:27 AM EST
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Censorship is always bad
I have no intention of clearing my Queers Against Islamic Apocalypse Week contingent with the control freaks at Pride. If the other QAIAW can march along signs that say "Death to Israel" then I don't suppose there's any reason I can march with signs that say "Down With Palestine" or "Don't Deny the Jihadi Holocaust." Because freedom of speech is our highest value, and fuck the consequences that speech has even if it incites hatred. Right?
Abraham, Toronto ON
03/13/10 2:10 PM EST
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lying doesn't help your cause
Abraham, nobody carried any signs with any messages remotely like that in the Pride parade. Manufacturing falsehoods is admitting that the truth is not on your side.
ben, toronto on
03/13/10 2:32 PM EST
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Hypocrsiy
Ryan has it right: Tim Tim McCaskell and Richard Fung WILL try to "co-opt Pride with their own political agendas" if given the chance. Yes, they've done lots for the gay community over the years - and thanks are due - BUT, on OUR one day of the year, it would befitting if they spent their time on GAY issues. They have 364 other days of the year to continue their "destroy Israel" propaganda. But of course, they couldn't let an opportunity like Pride to get in the way of their agenda, could they? They will take what should be a joyous day of celebration and turn it into one of unnecessary confrontation and bad blood. Shame on their opportunism.
Ken, Paris France
03/13/10 2:55 PM EST
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Stupid is what stupid does
No doubt police officers along parade route were knowledgeable enough to interpret hate crimes and to act accordingly. Why is there a need for censorship when no arrest reported? The white elephant in the community are that people who co-opt Pride with their own political agendas are those few that are in power within the organization. News of corruption,dictatorship, conflict of interests, lies, and the leaning of a conservative governance were heard here even in Montreal. Shame on you! What is the selection process on who will be on the ethics committee?" What's next? Nudity?
Lennon, Montreal Quebec
03/13/10 3:55 PM EST
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Thanks Xtra!
Congratulation on reporting in a factual manner and in bringing the released statement to our attention. Say NO to censorship! Say NO to dictatorship! Silence = Death (of Pride)
Steve Wildman, Brampton Ontario
03/13/10 5:33 PM EST
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Focus groups
I assume this came out of the focus groups that took place a while ago. They were facilitated by Navigator - owned by Conservative backer Jamie Watt - so I suppose this is Navigator's strategy for dealing with the drama from last year. If they were paid for this they should return the money because this is a disaster. Focus groups aren't "reaching out to the community." Sitting down and meeting with the groups concerned would be reaching out the community. That wasn't done for some reason and now things are much worse. No matter what you're feelings about the decision to create an Ethics Committee this was handled horribly and the decision to hire Navigator and to approve this strategy was the responsibility of the Pride Toronto Board of Directors: http://www.pridetoronto.com/about/board/ Write them and let them know that reaching out to the community isn't done through focus groups. Genevieve D'Iorio genevieve-diorio@pridetoronto.com Jim Cullen jim-cullen@pridetoronto.com Mark Singh mark-singh@pridetoronto.com Gaya Arasaratnam gaya-arasaratnam@pridetoronto.com Helen Kennedy helen-kennedy@pridetoronto.com Margaret Ngai margaret-ngai@pridetoronto.com Francisco Alvarez francisco-alvarez@pridetoronto.com Daniel Knox daniel-knox@pridetoronto.com Selma D'Souza selma-dsouza@pridetoronto.com
Rebecca, Oakville Ontario
03/13/10 5:57 PM EST
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how about we start with corporate float
Re. "If you want to ban groups that have nothing to do with LGBT issues, why not start with the corporate sponsors that just slap a rainbow on their logo once a year." Paul, you are right. I am with you...us in advertising know that corporate floats uses straight buff models at $100/day on their floats posing to be gay *barf*. People, these models are only gay-for-pay. If only those who died during the Stonewall movement could see what it has become...sad.
Daja, Etobicoke Ontario
03/13/10 6:03 PM EST
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A Pride Toronto owned by Tories?
Jamie Watt is a Canadian political strategist who was most notable for playing an important role in the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario's two election victories under the leadership of Mike Harris. The Harris government closed Wellesley Hospital, widely seen as the most welcoming hospital for LGBT people in Toronto, with one of the best HIV/AIDS treatment programs in the country. In the same year, the Tories delisted sex reassignment surgery from OHIP. Some trans people were forced to stop in the middle of transitioning. Anti-homophobia education programs were pretty well first on the chopping block when the Harris government slashed school board budgets. If we have a seasoned political strategist advising Pride Toronto, I cannot help but wonder if this released statement about the parade is just a distraction from the fact that, 1.) Pride Toronto is in deficit of 160K last year for the first time (given the running budget had doubled to almost 4 millions), 2.) 250K reserved fund claimed to be non-existence/disappeared, and 3.) its annual Pride Awards and Gala dinner spent 100K in expense and generated only about 7K in revenue and lost 93K under the contract with Dragos Production for 3rd consecutive year in 2010. An event firm registered in the same address as its past co-chair, Mark Singh, Interim President of Fierté Canada Pride and current co-chair of World Pride 2014? Is this not a clear sign of Conflict of Interests?
Nicholas Lafleur, Vaughan Ontario
03/13/10 6:38 PM EST
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if one banned then all should be
If this new censorship rule is going to be used to ban those critical of Israeli policy in regards to the Palestinians then all groups that go off topic should be banned too, starting of course with all the corporate floats, the parade seems to have become more of a live action commercial in recent years, then too ban the pro-Israel groups and any other ethnic groups, the firefighters, police, the TTC, the army, the political parties and so on, none of those groups are directly related to gay pride either. Of course doing so would be ridiculous, I personally don't support QAIA or the pro-Israeli groups for that matter but I most certainly support them being allowed to have a voice and to express their concerns whatever they may be. We must draw the line at hate mongering only and just because some disagree with a group's point of view it doesn't make it hate mongering. Personally I'm sick and tired of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and I try my best to ignore it since there's nothing I can do to influence the outcome anyways but when some folks try to censor someone in my city then it does become my problem since censorship does affect me even if it's only indirect, at least at this time, perhaps one year it'll be censoring signs with overtly sexual messages or displays or something else that does affect me directly. Censorship has no place in the gay community or anywhere else for that matter and the line should only be drawn at hate mongering which has never been a problem at any pride parade I've ever seen.
Rich, Toronto Ontario
03/13/10 7:21 PM EST
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QuAIA members are dupes
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) are dupes and "useful idiots" of the anti-Israel lobby. They condemn Israel, but say nothing about Muslim countries that persecute and kill gay people. They are the ultimate "Uncle Toms" and should be banned from the Pride parade.
Mr. Magoo, Toronto Ontario
03/13/10 7:32 PM EST
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No, censors are the dupes
Right, "Mr. Magoo." And what of the LGBTQ people whose lives are destroyed by Israeli apartheid? "The test of democracy is freedom of criticism." - David Ben-Gurion "The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion." - Henry Steele Commager "Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime." - Potter Stewart "If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all." - Noam Chomsky "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
Rick, London Ontario
03/13/10 7:49 PM EST
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Does Israel kill gays?
Right, "Rick". I don't see Israel hanging gays like certain Muslim countries do. http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/10/shocking_new_ph.html Queers Against Israeli Apartheid have failed to condemn the killing and persecution of gays in Muslim countries.
Mr. Magoo, Toronto Ontario
03/13/10 8:17 PM EST
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Killing gays
Israel certainly contributes to harsh conditions that result in harm for gays. And it's certainly possible to oppose apartheid and anti-gay violence at the same time. I do. Just because (some) gays enjoy better lives/rights within Israel, that doesn't mean we should ignore Israel's war crimes and crimes against humanity. It's not as if Israel is homophobia-free, either; see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4694328.stm
Rick, London Ontario
03/13/10 8:48 PM EST
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condemning all violence against queers Re: Magoo
Mr. Magoo, if you were to actually listen to what QuAIA is saying, instead of just making false accusations, you would know that QuAIA condemns all violence against all queers all over the world, including Muslim countries, etc. The question is, how can Western activists actually support queers in the developing world in a way that is actually beneficial to them? South Africa has a good and improving record of dealing with LGBT issues... but that developed primarily after apartheid was lifted, so that black activists, queer and straight alike, could mobilize for their rights.
Sav, Toronto ON
03/13/10 8:57 PM EST
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Focus does not invalidate justness
Mr. Magoo, it isn't the purview of QuAIA to address all the ills of the world. That doesn't mean that they don't have a valid point. By the same token, we should expect every political group to address every injustice in the world so as not to invalidate their positions and hard work in your eyes.
Carl Picks, Toronto ON
03/13/10 9:17 PM EST
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What is the priority?
I guess the personal priority of QuAIA and their gay Leftist supporters is to march in the Pride parade against Israel, rather than to march against Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran that kill gays. The gay Left always seems to have a greater allegiance to the political causes of the Left, than to fighting human rights abuses against gays and lesbians in countries that the Left favours.
Mr. Magoo, Toronto Ontario
03/14/10 10:07 PM EST
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Wrong again
Mr. Magoo, again you completely misunderstand the dynamics of the struggle for queer rights in that part of the world. First of all, marching against Saudi or Iran on queer rights would be pointless because neither I nor you have any influence over that government's behavior (Israel's human rights abuses are very different in this respect). Further, do you know what queer Saudis and Iranians are actually asking people in the West to do to support them? If you were to listen, if you had your ear tuned to that part of the world, you would know that Western denunciations of those countries/cultures are often used as an _excuse_ to clamp down on queers and other dissenting and marginalized groups. So protesting in that case might make _you_ feel better, but it's unlikely to do anything for Muslim queers except complicate their struggle. They have enough problems already. So if you want to help those people, listen to what they are actually saying! Do you claim to know what is best for queers in Saudi better than they know themselves?
Sav, Toronto ON
03/14/10 10:50 PM EST
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Pride is either very smart or very dumb, time will
A simple statement from the Chair would have been sufficient. “Pride Toronto is rooted in the struggle for free expression, statements of hate will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in accordance to the law”. By first glance Pride released a poorly drafted, wordy press statement re-stating a policy already in practice and one that many other “prides” already have in place. OR this is a classic example of a PR distraction tactic. A few weeks ago when the O’Canada was on the lips of every Canadian, The Harper Government said that they will look at changing the words. The reaction was swift and angry and worked, the Prorogue was forgotten, Afghanistan was ignored, the Budget and throne speech was overshadowed. The facts are: Expressions of hate are not tolerated by society and are a mater for the police and lawyers to deal with, not an arbitrary group of volunteers. The Pride Press release has now taken the chattering class off on a tangent. Last year Pride Toronto lost $140,000, more then the last 12 years combined. No one is questioning that. In a recent Xtra article the Executive Director is quoted saying “ that the $250,000 “stabilization fund in fact never existed. “We don’t know why the previous auditors approved it”. Hmm an auditor would never report something that was never in existence. Misplacing $250,000 will not explainable with a simple "oops" Now you decide, is the press release on “vetting” signage, smart or stupid. I can almost guarantee you that at some point Navigator advised Pride to create a distraction that will go away in a few weeks.
Mark Smith, Toronto Ontario
03/15/10 2:13 AM EST
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Opening the door to broader criticism
Thanks for your comments, Mark. Your points are alarming. But I would be more optimistic about how this fiasco over attempts to pre-approve/censor signage is playing out. A lot of people (like myself) never followed the Pride Committee's decision-making process before, but are engaged now. So now I'm learning about the issue of huge deficits that you raise as well as other issues on the Facebook site "Don't sanitize Pride: Free expression must prevail" http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/group.php?gid=352762041138&ref=mf --issues like possible conflicts of interest in who the Pride Committee hires for expensive parties that it cannot afford etc., it's work with neo-con run groups like Navigator (who mis-managed the so-called focus groups) and other such disturbing news. How can there be more accountability for the issue of deficits you raise? Was this issue gaining traction before, what you call, the distraction occurred? If not, then here's an opportunity to forthrightly raise this issue over finances alongside other issues that are vital to the community, like freedom of expression. They are all important (and don't have to cancel each other out). Perhaps there's an emerging grassroots movement in all the calls for more democracy and accountability. We can neither be in the red, nor can we silence voices of queer solidarity in the Pride Parade. We need to take Pride back to its roots.
Anita Krajnc, Toronto Ontario
03/15/10 6:44 AM EST
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Simply answer to Pride Toronto hullabaloo
5th annual Queer West Fest 2010, Less corporate! More grassroots. All Queer! a response to the more commercialized Pride Toronto. QWF works across the arts community addressing social justice issues, the needs of marginalized groups, primarily LGBT and Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic communities, and works to foster understanding amongst non-LGBT audiences. By creating environments where artists can explore queer culture and take risks, the festival cultivates creative synergies, thought-provoking displays, social commentary, and new possibilities for inhabiting sexuality and gender. We're Here. We're Queer and we're waiting for you.
Michel F Pare, Toronto Ontario
03/15/10 8:48 PM EST
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No hope?
Sav, you seem to be saying that fighting for gay rights in Muslim countries is a hopeless cause and that Israel will listen to gay protests from the West, while Muslim countries will not. If so, I guess this mean that gays in an independent Palestinian state would be destined for an eternal closet.
Mr. Magoo, Toronto Ontario
03/15/10 9:10 PM EST
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Wrong yet again
Mr. Magoo, you call me "hopeless" when I say that I believe Muslim queers are intelligent people than can fight for their own rights? You call it hopeless to help them by not interfering in their struggle?? Maybe it's difficult for you to understand this... but there are REAL, GENUINE queer movements at work in the Muslim world as we speak. There is Helem (dream) in Lebanon. There is Aswat in Palestine. I'm sure you've never heard of them before, because it seems you have little interest in those societies in general. Do you claim you know how best to support these groups when you've never even heard of them? Do you know what they are saying? Do you know what messages they are sending to the West? Do you understand the main impediment to organizing for queer rights in the West Bank is NOT Palestinian society? Israel prevents ALL Palestinians from organizing for political causes, gay or straight. You see Mr. Magoo, YOU are the one without hope. Because your arrogance blinds you from believing in their abilities to fight their own struggle. It blinds you from understanding their struggle or being able to help them in a way that is actually useful for them. So just keep supporting Israel... while it has it's boot firmly on the throat of all Palestinians, gay and straight alike.
Sav, Toronto ON
03/15/10 10:20 PM EST
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Um, Ben?
I didn't say they marched along those signs at Pride. I said they marched along those holding those signs. This happened on Bloor Street last year. There were several very offensive signs - some supporting Hezbollah and Hamas, Down With Israel etc. and there were people from QAIA in attendance. Tacit support. I have been a sympathizer but these tactics and hatred have driven me away. I am not on any 'side' so I don't have to manufacture anything - but slander away. You reveal more about yourself than about me or your cause. Israel has behaved abominably, and I would not be saying that if I was supporting them unquestioningly. My beef is with activists of the left who should know what happens when you tolerate this sort of hatred in your midst, no matter how much you justify it with reference to history. The Jews can play that game as well, and with as much emotional justification. But the disproportionate focus on Israeli when there are many intolerant and racist regimes in the world speaks volumes. It comes nowhere near Darfur in numbers or deaths. When you keep company with anti-Semites, don't be surprised when you're accused of it yourself.
Abraham, Toronto ON
03/15/10 11:40 PM EST
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convince me
I'm still waiting for someone to come along with an argument in favour of censoring QuAIA that could convince me to accept it. No one has even come even remotely close but considering how little I actually know about QuAIA I can imagine it might be possible. It would need logic and fact based arguments instead of name calling and emotional reactions, it would have to demonstrate that the threat from allowing QuAIA to express themselves is so great that it justifies the use of censorship. No one has even come close yet and so far the more I hear from the pro-censorship side the more convinced I am that they are very wrong about this issue. So pro-censorship folks be convincing and you may have a convert.
Rich, Toronto Ontario
03/20/10 6:59 PM EST
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When will they get it??
Rich asks for " ... an argument in favour of censoring QuAIA that could convince me to accept it ... ". I don't want to get started on the vile despots and dictatorships of today's world, where slavery, oppression of women, ethnic racism, homophobia and non-democracy are accepted government policy. The list is long, but to name just a few: Syria, China, North Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Uganda - just for starters. None of those vile policies are policies of the State of Israel, the only democracy in the entire Middle East. Yet Israel and Jews were singled out for racist hatred at last year's Toronto pride parade. Clearly, if people have a genuine interest in human rights and democracy, they would go after the real demons. Attacking Israel is thinly veiled as their stand on democratic human rights. However in the light of day, the attacks are nothing other than racist anti-Semitism - an enigma, a paradox and a violation of all that Pride Toronto should represent. We need an unambiguous statement against last year's incitement to hatred, and to guarantee that it will be unacceptable at this year's parade. Surely, (surely!) Pride Toronto has to take a stand against racism? "Silence is the voice of consent". Tarring Israel with the word 'apartheid' is also a slap in the face to the heroic struggle against real apartheid in South Africa.
Jonathan Danilowitz, Tel Aviv Israel
03/23/10 5:32 AM EST
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"Hatred"
Jonathan claims that "Israel and Jews were singled out for racist hatred at last year's Toronto pride parade." First of all, racism is something that's done to people, not governments/states. Second, "hatred" is illegal in Canada. Had "hatred" occurred, then why didn't the police arrest and charge the perpetrators? (Answer: Because there was no "hatred".) Third, how do you explain the involvement of Jewish people in the QuAIA contingent? Are they racist Jew-haters, too? QuAIA condemns all forms of racism and LGBT oppression. It is a peace-seeking group. For more information, see: http://queersagainstapartheid.org/faq/ Even Israel's Minister of Defence, Ehud Barak, envisions "apartheid" in Israel. Is he a racist Jew-hater, too? How about Desmond Tutu (South African anti-apartheid activist), Jimmy Carter (former US President), Michael Ignatieff (Liberal Leader), and Naomi Klein (Jewish author and activist)? All racist Jew-haters, too, I suppose? Goodness, they really are EVERYWHERE!
Rick, London Ontario
03/30/10 4:21 PM EST
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