Queers Against Israeli Apartheid is pulling out of Toronto’s annual Pride Parade in what the activist group called a “challenge” to mayor Rob Ford, who had threatened to cut the city’s funding to the parade because of the group’s continued participation.
The Ford administration’s response? Prove the group is out, and we’ll provide funding.
Mr. Ford and his allies on council had said they would cut Pride’s funding altogether if Queers Against Israeli Apartheid takes part. The group’s vocal opposition to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories has elicited accusations of anti-Semitism, but some advocates argued the reluctance to fund Pride had more to do with the mayor’s stance toward a flamboyant gay and lesbian event.
Pride relies on the city for about a quarter of its budget. Last year, the city gave the parade a $123,807 grant and $245,000 worth of services, such as litter cleanup and policing.
Mr. Ford said Friday that he’s happy to fund Pride as the city has in the past – but he wants to wait until after the June festivities to ensure Queers Against Israeli Apartheid doesn’t participate before giving Pride any cash.
“That’s the challenge,” Mr. Ford said. If the group doesn’t march, “then [Pride will] receive the funding after the parade.”
Mayor Ford’s councillor brother, Doug Ford, said he would be satisfied if Pride Toronto can guarantee in advance that Queers Against Israeli Apartheid isn’t participating.
“We want confirmation they aren’t going to be at that event – or, they can be there, but they aren’t going to be running around spewing hate speech. That’s the bottom line,” he said, accusing the group of “holding the city hostage.”
“We're going to have to talk to the organizers at Pride, as well, along with this group, and just have confirmation.”
That’s hard for Pride Toronto to do right now, given that applications haven’t opened for parade participation. The festival won’t know who is taking part until the end of May, spokesman Francisco Alvarez said.
At the same time, Mr. Alvarez said, “we’re relieved, in a way, that they’ve decided to move the dispute outside of the actual Pride festival.”
The fight to ban Queers Against Israeli Apartheid has gone on for years. Last year, Pride Toronto initially banned the group, then allowed it to participate. This year, the controversy prompted Pride Toronto to create a dispute resolution process so anyone with a quibble as to how the events are run (from the groups marching to the number of water stations, he said) has a formal complaints process.
Last week, city staff declared the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid’s message doesn’t violate the city’s anti-discrimination policies.
That made little difference.
“They have a job to do; we have a job to do,” Doug Ford said about city staff. “And I understand where they’re coming from – they have to look into it legally. And they dealt with the legal team and that’s what they came up with.”
Mr. Alvarez said he is concerned the administration’s decision to ignore city staff indicates the proposal to cut Pride funding was more political than policy-based.
During his 10-year career as a councillor for Etobicoke, Mr. Ford made comments many called homophobic, including the suggestion that “if you’re not doing needles and you’re not gay, you won't get AIDS, probably.” As mayor, his was the only vote against restoring provincial funds for syphilis and HIV screening programs.
“What they've stated is more a concern around hate speech and discrimination,” Mr. Alvarez said. “And so if they don’t follow the advice of their bureaucrats who say it doesn’t contravene their own policies, that’s the type of political decision I'm talking about.”
Queers Against Israeli Apartheid spokeswoman Elle Flanders said the group is pulling out because it made its point and felt the ongoing tussle was threatening Pride more than it was helping.
“We’ve been vindicated by Pride, we’ve been vindicated by the city. ... We need to express solidarity and give back to a community that has been extremely supportive of us,” she said. “Happy Passover.”
