Toronto Pride has announced Cyndi Lauper as a headline entertainer for this year's Pride festivities. She will be giving a free outdoor concert at Queen's Park on the Saturday of Pride Week--which is pushed back this year due to the G20 Summit being held in Toronto on the traditional Pride weekend (last weekend of June).
This year's Pride Parade will be on Sunday July 4th.
Full Version: Toronto Pride 2010
The Conservative federal gov't is showing it's true colours in denying federal funding to Toronto Pride, even as events like the Calgary Stampede receive funding.
Pride funding may have an impact on the Toronto mayoral race, as the leading candidates are all staking their positions.
QUOTE
Canada’s Largest Ribfest, the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival and Lethbridge’s Whoop-Up Days are among nearly 50 organizations receiving funding this year through the federal Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP). Pride Toronto is not.
Organizers for the week-long celebration hosted by the gay community applied for $600,000 after receiving $400,000 in 2009, but the list of recipients released Friday has dashed those hopes.
Organizers for the week-long celebration hosted by the gay community applied for $600,000 after receiving $400,000 in 2009, but the list of recipients released Friday has dashed those hopes.
Pride funding may have an impact on the Toronto mayoral race, as the leading candidates are all staking their positions.
QUOTE
Mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi called urged all candidates to speak up against the federal government’s decision.
“I call on all the mayoral candidates to stand united,” Rossi said. “This is a blow to tourism and diversity in Toronto and it's not acceptable.”
Mayoral candidate George Smitherman, who’s gay, said the federal grant program is to support marquee events, and Pride is considered one of the top marquee events in the country.
“I think it’s shocking that they’ve pulled the rug out from under Pride, one of the country’s marquee tourism events so close to the time of the festival,” Smitherman said. “It’s regrettable and irresponsible and it comes as a slap in the face to the community.”
* * *
Mayoral candidate Rob Ford said events like Pride should be supported by private sector sponsors, not taxpayers.
“I’ve always said the public sector shouldn’t be funding parades, no matter what parade it is,” Ford said. “The private sector should be sponsoring these parades.”
* * *
But mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone said that during times of austerity, governments usually cut back but don’t cancel grants outright.
“It seems to indicate an inherent bias because obviously you don’t cancel a grant without a reason and the question is what is the reason. If it’s not clear, then it leaves Torontonians and others to reach conclusions.
“If the idea is to address budget issues, usually there’s a reduction. Elimination is a drastic action, a statement which speaks volumes. It’s not fair and it’s not right.”
“I call on all the mayoral candidates to stand united,” Rossi said. “This is a blow to tourism and diversity in Toronto and it's not acceptable.”
Mayoral candidate George Smitherman, who’s gay, said the federal grant program is to support marquee events, and Pride is considered one of the top marquee events in the country.
“I think it’s shocking that they’ve pulled the rug out from under Pride, one of the country’s marquee tourism events so close to the time of the festival,” Smitherman said. “It’s regrettable and irresponsible and it comes as a slap in the face to the community.”
* * *
Mayoral candidate Rob Ford said events like Pride should be supported by private sector sponsors, not taxpayers.
“I’ve always said the public sector shouldn’t be funding parades, no matter what parade it is,” Ford said. “The private sector should be sponsoring these parades.”
* * *
But mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone said that during times of austerity, governments usually cut back but don’t cancel grants outright.
“It seems to indicate an inherent bias because obviously you don’t cancel a grant without a reason and the question is what is the reason. If it’s not clear, then it leaves Torontonians and others to reach conclusions.
“If the idea is to address budget issues, usually there’s a reduction. Elimination is a drastic action, a statement which speaks volumes. It’s not fair and it’s not right.”
While there are certainly a number of homophobic social conservatives lurking in the Conservative party, I'm wondering if the denial of funding this year had more to do with the "Israeli apartheid" controversy in last year's parade.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nation...article1540175/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nation...article1540175/
QUOTE(Marc @ May 10 2010, 02:07 AM) 
While there are certainly a number of homophobic social conservatives lurking in the Conservative party, I'm wondering if the denial of funding this year had more to do with the "Israeli apartheid" controversy in last year's parade.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nation...article1540175/
But how would the Conservatives know--seeing as they tend not to show up for Pride? NDP leader Jack Layton (and his wife Olivia Chow) are regulars in the Pride Parade. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has also marched in the parade. Where are the Conservative leaders?
The Queers Against Israeli Apartheid issue has been a controversial and contentious one in the gay community. Some feel that it is an issue of "freedom of expression." In a parade that celebrates our democratic right to express ourself in any way we want--do we want to stifle political expression? Others contend that such groups incite discrimination (and hate, even) which is obviously contrary to the aims of Pride.
Pride Toronto has waffled on this issue---at first they were going to deny this group entry to the parade, then changed their mind. But the latest I'm reading is that they will not allow this group to march.
There is still some opposition--people who feel that Pride is being "sanitized" by corporate sponsors and political correctness. Even if the group is not "officially" allowed to enter, it's not inconceivable that they could enter under a false group name and/or crash the parade in some way.
My feeling is that the public is free to accept or reject the message of any group in Pride. If they disagree with the message of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid--they should boo them. Censoring them may, in some ways, make them martyrs and strengthen their cause. (That said, I don't like the notion that groups antithetical to Pride using it to gain publicity... but if this is a free country, if this is a democracy, we have to take the bad with the good.)
But one small group of people should not affect the treatment of an event which attracts tens of thousands of participants, spectators (tax-paying participants and spectators, I might add), plus tourists.
If it's OK to fund the Calgary Stampede, if it's OK to fund Toronto's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (a great event, but how many foreign tourists come to Toronto for that?), why is it not OK to fund Toronto Pride? Once again, the Conservative gov't of Canada is showing its true colours.
I think pride parades ought to be strictly about gay issues. Israel -- whether pro- or anti- -- isn't a gay issue.
QUOTE(canmark @ May 16 2010, 12:35 PM)
But how would the Conservatives know--seeing as they tend not to show up for Pride? NDP leader Jack Layton (and his wife Olivia Chow) are regulars in the Pride Parade. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has also marched in the parade. Where are the Conservative leaders?......
But one small group of people should not affect the treatment of an event which attracts tens of thousands of participants, spectators (tax-paying participants and spectators, I might add), plus tourists.
If it's OK to fund the Calgary Stampede, if it's OK to fund Toronto's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (a great event, but how many foreign tourists come to Toronto for that?), why is it not OK to fund Toronto Pride? Once again, the Conservative gov't of Canada is showing its true colours.
You nailed it Canmark. From the minute Diane Ablonsky got demoted for dare posing for pictures with drag queens when presenting the cheque to Pride Toronto last year the homophobic writing was on the wall. You would not believe the hoops anything remotely related to the gay community has had to jump through to get any federal funding these days. Divers Cite in Montreal for the first time in years got cut-off from Federal funding last year - even though they are one of the 3 biggest tourism events in Montreal annually.
I've been privy to some of the walls thrown up to try to block marketing funds that the CTC the federal tourism body have geared towards the gay marketplace outside of Canada. If the words gay or lesbian were included in the funding requests or 'Gay' was in the title of a publication an ad was being taken out in - funding was automatically denied with no explanation. They had to hide the fact that any marketing money was being allocated to promote gay tourism otherwise the funding requests would be denied - with no explanation from this BLATANTLY homophobic government we have right now.
And the Royal Agricultural Fair - an event that attracts maybe a couple of hundred tourists from outside Ontario being one of two 'Marquee tourist events' to get money in Toronto this year - while Pride gets denied - especially this year with the date shift so that we are expecting thousands from the USA on their 4th of July weekend - what a pathetic joke.
Women and pro-choice supporters are catching on to the radical right tilt of this government as are those of us in the gay community who are paying attention. We can't get rid of them soon enough - even though the alternatives - such as Ignatieff - have not been impressive - at least they are not intent in rolling back rights and sticking us back in the closet - like so many in this Reform Conservative govenment are trying to do.
Globe and Mail: Toronto’s Gay Pride parade will exclude contentious group
Toronto Star: Pride prohibits phrase ‘Israeli apartheid’
Edit to add: I just noticed that there is an article on this topic on The Advocate's website (Israel Becomes an Issue at Toronto Pride). There's already 5 pages of comments. Clearly this is a hot button issue in the LGBT community.
QUOTE
Participants in Toronto’s Gay Pride parade this year won’t be able to march under the banner Queers Against Israeli Apartheid.
Pride Toronto’s Board of Directors voted Friday to ban the term from all Pride-related events, Councillor Kyle Rae confirmed.
* * *
The group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, which has marched in Toronto’s annual Pride parade for the past several years, has angered people who feel the name is discriminatory, anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli.
The group, for its part, insists it’s none of those things, but merely critical of the policies of the state of Israel. Pride Toronto’s move is essentially censorship, they say.
Mr. Rae, a long-time champion of gay rights in the city and an opponent of the group’s participation in the parade, said he got an e-mail Friday afternoon from one of Pride Toronto’s board members, telling him “the Pride committee has voted to ban the use of the term Israeli apartheid at all Pride-related events.”
Pride Toronto’s Board of Directors voted Friday to ban the term from all Pride-related events, Councillor Kyle Rae confirmed.
* * *
The group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, which has marched in Toronto’s annual Pride parade for the past several years, has angered people who feel the name is discriminatory, anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli.
The group, for its part, insists it’s none of those things, but merely critical of the policies of the state of Israel. Pride Toronto’s move is essentially censorship, they say.
Mr. Rae, a long-time champion of gay rights in the city and an opponent of the group’s participation in the parade, said he got an e-mail Friday afternoon from one of Pride Toronto’s board members, telling him “the Pride committee has voted to ban the use of the term Israeli apartheid at all Pride-related events.”
Toronto Star: Pride prohibits phrase ‘Israeli apartheid’
Edit to add: I just noticed that there is an article on this topic on The Advocate's website (Israel Becomes an Issue at Toronto Pride). There's already 5 pages of comments. Clearly this is a hot button issue in the LGBT community.
As expected, the Israeli apartheid people plan to defy the ban and sneak into the Pride parade somehow.
QUOTE
The activist group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid will attempt to march in the July 4 Pride Toronto parade despite a Pride ban on the use of the phrase “Israeli apartheid,” setting up a potential confrontation with festival organizers on the day of the event.
“I don’t think that a suggestion that they don’t like our message should keep us out of Pride. So there is an intention to march, and we will find the message that works in that march and we will be there. We need our voice to be heard,” said Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) spokeswoman Elle Flanders.
Flanders declined to discuss the specifics of QuAIA’s plans. Though Pride executive director Tracey Sandilands said that QuAIA would be welcomed if it marched under a name that excluded “apartheid,” such as “Queers in Favour of a Free Palestine,” Flanders said QuAIA would not consider such a change.
“I don’t think that a suggestion that they don’t like our message should keep us out of Pride. So there is an intention to march, and we will find the message that works in that march and we will be there. We need our voice to be heard,” said Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) spokeswoman Elle Flanders.
Flanders declined to discuss the specifics of QuAIA’s plans. Though Pride executive director Tracey Sandilands said that QuAIA would be welcomed if it marched under a name that excluded “apartheid,” such as “Queers in Favour of a Free Palestine,” Flanders said QuAIA would not consider such a change.
QUOTE(canmark @ May 27 2010, 12:16 AM)
As expected, the Israeli apartheid people plan to defy the ban and sneak into the Pride parade somehow.
How big is this group? Is it just a couple of wingnuts seeking publicity for their own agenda?
I don't know how big they are, but they have their own website and they've linked to an xtra video showing a sizable crowd protesting the Pride decision to ban the group. Gay playwright Brad Fraser was among those supporting QAIA. Many are claiming this is a "free speech" and "censorship" issue.
I'm reminded of the anti-Israel protests during last year's Toronto Film Festival where the likes of gay filmmaker John Greyson protested TIFF's selecting Tel Aviv as the spotlight city for a new program of films.
There is definitely an anti-Israel movement in the Queer community. I'm not sure why considering Israel treats gays better than any of the other countries in that region (allowing gays to serve openly in the military, for example, having Pride parades, etc.), but these people have very strong views and they've dug themselves in the trenches. What with the G8/G20 Summit protests and all, this has energized many people. Finally, they get to be activists and protesters. Finally, they get to be like those people in the 60's and 70's fighting for freedom and liberation from The Man!
I'm reminded of the anti-Israel protests during last year's Toronto Film Festival where the likes of gay filmmaker John Greyson protested TIFF's selecting Tel Aviv as the spotlight city for a new program of films.
There is definitely an anti-Israel movement in the Queer community. I'm not sure why considering Israel treats gays better than any of the other countries in that region (allowing gays to serve openly in the military, for example, having Pride parades, etc.), but these people have very strong views and they've dug themselves in the trenches. What with the G8/G20 Summit protests and all, this has energized many people. Finally, they get to be activists and protesters. Finally, they get to be like those people in the 60's and 70's fighting for freedom and liberation from The Man!
Now, some Pride honourees are rejecting the honour over the 'Israeli apartheid' ban, and some are saying they'll boycott the Pride Parade and Dyke March and set up "alternative" Pride events.
QUOTE
Jane Farrow, chosen as this year’s Pride Toronto Dyke March “honoured dyke,” has rescinded her acceptance of the accolade in protest of Pride’s decision to ban the phrase “Israeli apartheid.”
* * *
Farrow’s rejection over the ban follows that of Alan Li, a doctor and activist who declined the honour of Pride Parade grand marshal.
* * *
Farrow’s rejection over the ban follows that of Alan Li, a doctor and activist who declined the honour of Pride Parade grand marshal.
QUOTE
The seams are beginning to unravel as queers — angry about Pride Toronto's decision to ban the term "Israeli Aparteid" — begin to organize a parallel program of events.
On Monday, June 7, the newly formed Pride Coalition for Free Speech will host a community meeting at the 519 Community Centre to discuss plans for alternatives to Toronto Pride's lineup of events.
On Monday, June 7, the newly formed Pride Coalition for Free Speech will host a community meeting at the 519 Community Centre to discuss plans for alternatives to Toronto Pride's lineup of events.
Well, you can't say that Pride is steering away from controversy in that their new choice for Pride Parade Grand Marshalls are Mandy Goodhandy and Todd Klinck. PFLAG is the honoured group.
And wow, Pride won't be all-dance-music all-the-time... they're adding live jazz to the lineup this year!
QUOTE
Both former sex workers, Klinck and Goodhandy have worked tirelessly to promote diversity, educate people and defend the rights of the queer spectrum. Through the establishment of their club, "Goodhandy's", they have provided a venue for community events and a place where trans people, gays, lesbians, fetishists, nudists, sex workers, bisexuals, and supporters all meet under one roof for fundraisers, dance parties, sex parties, networking and more.
And wow, Pride won't be all-dance-music all-the-time... they're adding live jazz to the lineup this year!
QUOTE
This year for the first time, Pride Toronto will present an entire segment devoted to the music of Jazz. On Sunday July 4th at Queens Park pride-goers will be able to relax with the family and get ballroom dancing lessons from Rainbow Ballroom, listen to the silken sounds of the John Alcorn Quintet, discover transgender artist/activist Jennifer Leitham and catch Lea DeLaria, a featured artist on the Newport Jazz Festival Tour.
A pre-Pride event that's appealing to gays and the general public will be Luminato's Queer Divas night on June 13th. Luminato is again presenting a series of dance events at Yonge-Dundas Square. This year's selection includes Bollywood Divas, Latin Divas, J-Pop Divas, etc. Ugly Betty's Michael Urie is the host, and performers include Carole Pope and Lea DeLaria, Justin Bond (Shortbus) and Christian Campbell (Trick).
Also part of Luminato, Rufus Wainwright's new opera, Prima Donna at the Elgin Theatre, and a documentary at NFB Mediatheque about the making of Prima Donna. Also a film on Rufus's recreation of the famous Judy Garland concert at Carnegie Hall, filmed at the London Paladium. And Rufus himself will perform live at the Elgin.
Edit to add: Ack! I just noticed Queer Divas night is on at the same time as the Tony Awards. Whose idea was this?! I was going to go, but now I will stay home and watch the Tonys. And no, I don't have a PVR. Although... I wonder if CBS will post the video of the Tonys Awards on their website?
==========
Edit to add: More events I've discovered
I just discovered that, in addition to the Pride Parade (Sunday) and Dyke March (Saturday), there is also a Trans March (Friday night on Church St.).
Scott Thompson hosts gay comedy night at the Panasonic Theatre, Friday July 2.
Free outdoor screening of the movie Breakfast With Scot. Tom Cavanaugh plays an ex-Toronto Maple Leaf player who finds himself and his partner with the custody of a flamboyant 11-year old boy, Scot. Wednesday June 30th, Metro Hall, 9pm.
Screening of the documentary Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride at the Isabel Bader Theatre, Monday June 28th.
Also part of Luminato, Rufus Wainwright's new opera, Prima Donna at the Elgin Theatre, and a documentary at NFB Mediatheque about the making of Prima Donna. Also a film on Rufus's recreation of the famous Judy Garland concert at Carnegie Hall, filmed at the London Paladium. And Rufus himself will perform live at the Elgin.
Edit to add: Ack! I just noticed Queer Divas night is on at the same time as the Tony Awards. Whose idea was this?! I was going to go, but now I will stay home and watch the Tonys. And no, I don't have a PVR. Although... I wonder if CBS will post the video of the Tonys Awards on their website?
==========
Edit to add: More events I've discovered
I just discovered that, in addition to the Pride Parade (Sunday) and Dyke March (Saturday), there is also a Trans March (Friday night on Church St.).
Scott Thompson hosts gay comedy night at the Panasonic Theatre, Friday July 2.
Free outdoor screening of the movie Breakfast With Scot. Tom Cavanaugh plays an ex-Toronto Maple Leaf player who finds himself and his partner with the custody of a flamboyant 11-year old boy, Scot. Wednesday June 30th, Metro Hall, 9pm.
Screening of the documentary Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride at the Isabel Bader Theatre, Monday June 28th.
Between the G20 protesters and the Pride protesters, I don't know who's going to be fiercer. But watch out, Toronto, there's gonna some angry people this summer.
Toronto Star: Backlash grows against Pride’s ‘Israeli apartheid’ ban: High-profile Pride participants and award recipients renounce their accolades in protest
CBC News: Controversy threatens to split Toronto's Pride festival
NOW: Pride's Shame Award
xtra: Pride Toronto in hiding after spirited denunciation from queer leaders
==========
Timeline for the "unraveling of Pride Toronto." There hasn't been much new news about this lately. I guess it's a standoff. The Queers Against Israeli Apartheid are not officially allowed in the parade, but they will crash it anyways. It remains to be seen what kind of conflict erupts from this.
All that said, out-of-towners and Americans (and people from other countries) are welcome to visit Toronto. This year the parade will be on the Fourth of July weekend, so it's convenient for Americans willing to leave their country and come up and party in polite/decadent Canada.
Toronto Star: Backlash grows against Pride’s ‘Israeli apartheid’ ban: High-profile Pride participants and award recipients renounce their accolades in protest
CBC News: Controversy threatens to split Toronto's Pride festival
NOW: Pride's Shame Award
xtra: Pride Toronto in hiding after spirited denunciation from queer leaders
==========
Timeline for the "unraveling of Pride Toronto." There hasn't been much new news about this lately. I guess it's a standoff. The Queers Against Israeli Apartheid are not officially allowed in the parade, but they will crash it anyways. It remains to be seen what kind of conflict erupts from this.
All that said, out-of-towners and Americans (and people from other countries) are welcome to visit Toronto. This year the parade will be on the Fourth of July weekend, so it's convenient for Americans willing to leave their country and come up and party in polite/decadent Canada.
Hurrah for that group. And as a queer academic friend of mine says, "Rainbow flags are still flags; get those lighters started!"
Postponing Toronto Pride one week for the G20 has turned out to be quite favorable: last weekend was overcast and rainy; this weekend is supposed to be sunny and hot.
This is the 30th anniversary of Toronto Pride (Toronto Star photo gallery here), and despite some recent controversies over whether the Pride parade is becoming too 'politicized' or too 'corporate/commercial', the parade and the celebration of gay life and culture goes on.
CP24 will be providing live coverage of the main Pride Parade on Sunday. There's also the Dyke March on Saturday and the Trans March on Friday.
Also, several LGBT couples will be getting married on a float in the parade itself. Some are from Canada, but some are from other countries (ie. US) where same-sex marriage is not legal. This float is sponsored by Mancrunch--yes, the gay dating site that made that rejected Super Bowl ad.
Pride Toronto on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pridetoronto
on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PrideToronto
on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pridetoronto
on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pridetoronto/
Happy Pride!
This is the 30th anniversary of Toronto Pride (Toronto Star photo gallery here), and despite some recent controversies over whether the Pride parade is becoming too 'politicized' or too 'corporate/commercial', the parade and the celebration of gay life and culture goes on.
CP24 will be providing live coverage of the main Pride Parade on Sunday. There's also the Dyke March on Saturday and the Trans March on Friday.
Also, several LGBT couples will be getting married on a float in the parade itself. Some are from Canada, but some are from other countries (ie. US) where same-sex marriage is not legal. This float is sponsored by Mancrunch--yes, the gay dating site that made that rejected Super Bowl ad.
Pride Toronto on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pridetoronto
on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PrideToronto
on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pridetoronto
on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pridetoronto/
Happy Pride!
What a difference a week makes. Last week the city like a police camp with everybody angry at somebody else it seemed. This weekend perhaps Toronto's largest Pride celebration ever and it seemed like the entire city came out to celebrate with us. What a party with over a million in attendance - all having a fabulous time. Just the party we so desperately needed!
And of special interest - Brian Burke did march in the parade with the PFLAG group wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform with the name Brendan across the back.
Some video highlights from news programs.
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTV...=TorontoNewHome
http://www.cp24.com/Pride2010/
And of special interest - Brian Burke did march in the parade with the PFLAG group wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform with the name Brendan across the back.
Some video highlights from news programs.
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTV...=TorontoNewHome
http://www.cp24.com/Pride2010/
I didn't go to the Pride Parade yesterday, but have found some good videos and photo galleries:
Toronto Pride video by Tom Davis.
xtra! video featuring Michael Pihach.
Toronto Star photo gallery.
Torontoist photo gallery.
BlogTO photo gallery.
Somebody's Flickr set, which includes a shot of Brian Burke.
Pride Toronto's Flickr set - Dyke March
Toronto Pride video by Tom Davis.
xtra! video featuring Michael Pihach.
Toronto Star photo gallery.
Torontoist photo gallery.
BlogTO photo gallery.
Somebody's Flickr set, which includes a shot of Brian Burke.
Pride Toronto's Flickr set - Dyke March
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