After weeks of speculation, Mayor Rob Ford has finally confirmed he will skip the Pride Parade on July 3rd in order to spend time at his cottage with his family. Pride Toronto co-chair Francisco Alvarez says he’s dismayed by the mayor’s decision.
“I’m really disappointed,” said Alvarez. “He’s missed a really good opportunity to confirm his support fort the LGBTQ community in this city.”
Ford has never been a champion of LGTBQ issues. In his mayoral campaign he spoke out against gay marriage, and for the past year the Pride festival has been embroiled in a dispute over city funding. Although the dispute has largely been resolved, City Hall is withholding funds from Pride until after the event on the condition that the controversial organization Queers Against Israeli Apartheid keeps its word not to participate.
Despite his record on LGBTQ issues, Alvarez says he won’t rush to judgment on whether Ford’s absence at the parade means Toronto’s mayor is anti-gay.
“I don’t want to read too much into it,” he said. “It is what it is. It’s a ‘no’ to an invitation, and the invitation remains open.”
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday believes Pride leaders have no reason to feel offended by Ford’s decision. “I’m disappointed [Alvarez] is disappointed,” he said. “I don’t think it’s sending the wrong message. It’s the long weekend. I bet half the population will be away that weekend. I’m hoping to be away myself.”
But others are concerned that this is a sign there are cuts coming to public services the LGBTQ community depends on, like HIV screening programs and queer arts and culture groups. Doug Kerr, a spokesperson for activist group Proud of Toronto, fears that the mayor intends to put queers services on the chopping block.
“I think the key thing for us, regardless of whether Ford marches or not, is the continued public support for Pride and other organizations in our community,” Kerr said. “The worrisome thing here is the very real possibility of cuts to funding of our community services.”
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who is leading a contingent of councillors marching at Pride, says that defunding LGBTQ services would be in keeping with Ford’s record.
“It would be very consistent with his past actions. He’s an ideologically driven mayor,” she said. “He hasn’t even been passive in his opposition to the LGBTQ community, he’s voted against the community. He was the single lone dissenting vote in a motion to approve provincial funding for HIV screening.”
“I think the community has been watching the actions of our mayor because we know that he’s said some disparaging things in the past. We were hoping that we was going to mature into his job as chief magistrate. I think he’s proved that he’s got some growing up to do.”
While Ford plans to be at his cottage the day of the Pride Parade, he has also declined to attend Pride Week’s rainbow flag-raising ceremony next Monday. He’s sending City Council Speaker Frances Nunziata in his place.
Mayor Ford’s office did not return our request for comment.
UPDATE:
Having not heard back from Rob Ford’s office on this story, we managed to reach him on his cell phone this afternoon. He answered, but immediately handed the phone to his spokesperson Adrienne Batra, who explained why he will be absent at the parade.
“The Ford family has had a tradition for many many years that they go away together, and it happens to fall on Canada Day weekend,” she said. “The mayor is a very busy person and he doesn’t get many opportunities to spend time with his family.”
Batra also wanted to assure members of the queer community that they shouldn’t be upset by the mayor’s refusal to take part. “It’s unfortunate that they feel that way. That’s not the case by any means. Mayor Ford is the mayor of all residents of Toronto. If there are some that have taken offense, that was certainly not the intent.”
When asked if Ford will attend any events during the 10-day Pride festival, Batra said that remains undecided. “At this point the mayor’s office hasn’t confirmed any other events.”
