OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Toronto
Toronto Wants More Gays
The city of Toronto has launched an expensive new ad campaign in hopes of attracting gay travelers. The campaign, whose tagline is “as gay as it gets,” is primarily targeted toward gays in the U.S.
In a completely unrelated story, Toronto’s CN Tower now lights up in rainbow colours at night, thanks to a sophisticated new LED system.
- T.O. aims to attract more gay tourists [Canoe]
- Toronto targets lucrative group: gay U.S. travellers [Globe and Mail]
- CN Tower to light up Toronto skyline [Canada.com]
Toronto Councilor Explodes Over Gay Pride Funding
Rob Ford, a Toronto city councilor, has once again burst an eye vessel over gay issues at a city council meeting. Here’s what our delightful urban hayseed had to say before voting against the funding of Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade:
I don’t think we should be supporting sexuality and that’s where this money is going. That’s what we’re supporting here, madam chair. I don’t believe we should be spending taxpayers’ money supporting your sexuality! If you’re gay great. If you’re not gay, that’s great too. That’s your prerogative. Do we have a straight parade? Do we have a heterosexual parade? Do we fund that? No! So I don’t know why we’re funding other things like that.
A heterosexual parade, eh? Now that would be a spectacle. All those straight couples holding hands in public, flaunting their babies for all to see…
Here’s the thing: Rob doesn’t know what a gay pride parade is. The reason straight pride festivals don’t exist is because it’s not about “supporting sexuality.” Pride parades exist because pride is the opposite of shame—which is what many would still have us feel.
If Rob had ever been to a gay pride parade, he’d note its highly political nature, with groups representing equality advocacy organisations, help for struggling teens, parent support systems, MPs and MLAs, educators, councilors, researchers, corporate sponsors, sport teams, music and theatre groups, veterans, and many others. It promotes diversity, celebrates culture, and—as in the case of Toronto—can be one of a city’s most successful tourist attractions. Of course, I don’t expect Rob to get this any time soon.
Ford was featured on this site last year for voting against AIDS education programs, announcing: “[if] you’re not gay, you won’t get AIDS”. He later apologised, blaming his outburst on “one too many beers.”
Incidentally, the funding for Toronto’s Pride Parade passed overwhelmingly, 36–2.
- Ford slams city for PRIDE grant [Mirror Guardian]
Toronto Police Spied On Gays
The Toronto police used undercover detectives to spy on the city’s gay community throughout the 1980s, according to a surveillance report leaked to the media this week. Community members under surveillance included gay business owners, conference attendees, and candidates running for city council.
I’d tell you my thoughts on the matter, but this line’s not safe. If you want to learn more, meet me at the you-know-where at 11 pm tonight. Come alone.
Actually, on second thought, can we meet at noon instead? A bunch of movies came out, so I want to keep my evenings open. And maybe change you-know-where to Starbucks; I have a gift card that I need to use up and I hear their new orange mocha is amazing!
Chemical Attacks In Gay Village Going Uninvestigated
A noxious gas introduced into the ventilation systems of two gay bars in Toronto last weekend is going uninvestigated.
While evidence suggests an ammonia-based gas, which burned some patrons’ lungs for hours after they were evacuated, Toronto’s Sergeant Stan Belza said it was probably just pepper-spray: “We were called; people were finding it hard to breathe.” When asked about pending investigations, Belza said the case has been dropped.
Although this incident could have been a prank (or two consecutive accidents), I have to say the lack of response is a little worrying. I mean, ammonia odors are pretty common in straight bars, but this is the gay village.
- Gas attacks in the gay village? [Globe and Mail]
Magazine Names Canada’s 5 Gayest Cities
Out Traveler, a gay and lesbian travel magazine, has named Canada’s top 5 gayest cities. While I’m not going to list them here, let’s just say that Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montréal should be expecting a few extra gay tourists this year! Wait, that might be a little too obvious. How about: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal should be expecting a few fewer intolerant tourists this year. Yes, that’ll do.
As for my thoughts on the selections… Having grown up in Edmonton until my early 20s, I can authoritatively say: “Huh?” Mind you, things have probably changed in the city’s gay community, of which I knew pretty much nothing, having been closeted for the entire time. Plus, Edmonton still has the world’s largest shopping mall. That’s pretty gay, right?
So, congratulations to the cities that made the cut! And may all the ones that didn’t have an absolutely traditional Friday the 13th.
- Gay travel magazine picks its top Canadian cities [CTV News]
- E-Town’s a gay town [Canoe.ca]
Toronto To Launch All-Gay Radio Station
Looks like the airwaves are about to get a little more gay next week!
Proud FM 103.9, an all-gay radio station, is set to launch Saturday in Toronto. While its signal strength is a relatively weak 50-watts, it is the first traditionally broadcasted, gay-themed radio station in Canada.
As typical for this sort of thing, the station has already faced its share of criticism. One financial partner has already withdrawn their backing, and Lorne Gunter, a columnist for the National Post, even suggested that the new station was awarded under anti-Christian pretenses:
[The CRTC] turned down a Catholic FM station for T.O. because it wouldn’t be diverse enough, even though it promised shows for 12 cultural groups in at least 11 different languages. Meanwhile, [Proud FM] was licensed to advance diversity, despite pledging to focus almost exclusively on gay issues.
Cute. Though, in reality, the Catholic FM station’s bid was on an entirely different frequency (101.3), which was ultimately awarded to CJSA-FM, a multi-cultural station.
Regardless of the bumps along the way, the station looks like it will be all ready for launch. So let me be the among the first to extend a hearty “G-G-G-Good Luck (Zap–Zap–Zap–Whoosh) to P-P-P-Proud FM (Eff-Emm): One-Oh-Three Point Niiiiine.”
- Proud FM to target gay and lesbian listeners [Globe and Mail]
- Radio Free Canada [Friends of Canadian Broadcasting]
Gay-Bashing Victim Calls For Public Inquiry
The Toronto police lost an appeal this week after a court fined them for wrongly arresting and beating a gay man while yelling homophobic slurs. The man was arrested for reckless driving and resisting arrest. His van was parked at the time.
As a result of the seven-year ordeal, the victim is now calling for a public police inquiry into the incident.
Good for him. Of course, knowing how these things work, the inquiry will probably take an additional seven years prompting an inquiry into the inquiry. I’ll post an update at that time—though there’s a good chance the web will have been replaced by time-connected cybernetic brain implants. So, if you’re interested in tracking this story’s progress, keep your implant’s neodymium ferro-fluid charged! Until then, folks!
- Probe police conduct, gay bashing victim urges [Toronto Star]
Toronto to Students: You Gay?
The Toronto District School Board sent out a new student census last week, and it includes that age-old question of academic relevance: You gay or what?
The survey results will be compared with the student’s grades and achievements at the end of the year. The whole thing is supposed to help the board better understand diversity and student needs.
As for my thoughts… Back in high school, I was so deep in the closet that I’m still finding socks stuck to me with static now and then. Let’s just say my grades and achievements wouldn’t have been counted in the right pile. Well, OK; perhaps if the school board found it as obvious as everyone else…
- Student census: a question of orientation [CBC News]
City Councilor Explodes Over AIDS Funding
Have you ever wondered how a crazy, anti-gay city councilor would react to AIDS prevention programs? Well, wonder no longer, folks! Rob Ford, a Toronto city councilor, voted against granting city funds toward AIDS education. And while that’s not particularly shocking, his five minute, on-the-record, angry rant is magnificently loony:
There are people dying every day of cancer, diabetes—all the other diseases. Why are we catering to [AIDS groups]? It’s very preventable! If you’re not doing needles and you’re not gay, you won’t get AIDS, probably. That’s the bottom line! And that’s preventable.
The general public does not agree with this [motion]. They think it’s a complete farce, ridiculous! This is so embarrassing!
Uh, yeah, because there’s nothing quite like ranting about the GRIDS to argue against funding for AIDS education.
Anyway, after Robby’s five minutes of angry time, the other councilors cut off his mic. Kyle Rae, the gay councilor whom Robby ridiculed for “condoning” AIDS funding, had this on-the-record response:
I don’t think it is worthy of this council to respond to the comments we heard a few moments ago. There are some who can be educated, and some who cannot.
Good on ya, Kyle. Oh, and the motion to fund AIDS education passed overwhelmingly.
- AIDS Awareness for most [Globe and Mail]
- Don’t spend on AIDS: Councillor [Toronto Sun]
- Grant it to him, Ford in unbowed [Toronto Star]
Pride Week Quiz
It’s that time of year! Cities everywhere are celebrating Pride, and Canada’s largest, Toronto Pride Week, is exactly one week away! But one urban university—located a stone-throw away from the heart of Toronto’s vibrant gay community—is celebrating in a very special way.
Ryerson University will be presenting an honorary degree to notoriously anti-gay lobbyist, Margaret Somerville. And they’ve scheduled it to coincide with the Pride Week opening ceremonies. How thoughtful!
Anyway, Margaret—actually, shall we call her Margey? Margey is an “ethicist” and played a vital role in the equal marriage debate’s losing anti-gay side. Uh, let me see if I can recall her arguments here…
Oh, yes, of course. Margey claimed that children of same-sex parents (whom she calls “gaybies,” I kid you not) lose their fundamental human rights through same-sex marriage. Oh, but “civil unions” for same-sex couples are OK with her. You know, because “civil unioned” couples can provide so much more for children than couples under the “marriage” label.
Regardless, students at Ryerson University have started an online petition to disinvite Margey from receiving the honorary degree. I wish them the best of luck. Because otherwise anything an “ethicist” says must be true, right?
- Ryerson to honour gay marriage critic [Toronto Star]
