Will the Grand Marshall of Gay Pride Toronto once again slam Israel???
El-Farouk Khaki is a member of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, and last year used his position to attack Israel...
“Anti-Israel advocacy has no relevance to Pride’s LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender] human rights mandate,” asserted Toronto lawyer and gay rights advocate Martin Gladstone.Queers Against Israeli Apartheid are banned from this year's march - but will they try to sneak in? Will Mr. Khaki attack Israel? Shouldn't Gay Pride celebrate the only outpost in the Middle East that accepts gays and lesbians???
The annual gay-pride parade, scheduled this year for June 28, has grown into the largest tourist event in Toronto, now attracting more than a million people a year. Stretching over 23 blocks, it receives $300,000 from the Ontario ministry of tourism, about $145,000 from the City of Toronto and $35,000 from Heritage Canada, as well as significant funding from corporate sponsorships.
Nevertheless, “in the last couple of years, I’m just horrified that in the middle of this party and celebration, there is this anti-Israel political advocacy going on,” Gladstone said, adding that this year some people have decided not to participate because they are nervous about their security.
“It’s supposed to be a celebration of diversity, inclusion and tolerance.” he said. “But it’s a microcosm of the antisemitism that’s happening globally.
“It’s a very uncomfortable environment because it vilifies Jews by extension. It has very eerie parallels to Nazi Germany. I don’t consider myself an activist, but I just can’t be silent anymore.”
Gladstone told the Jewish Tribune that he first met with the pride committee to address his concerns in April 2008, before last year’s parade.
“They listened and sympathized, but it was essentially ignored,” he explained, pointing to the anti-Israel atmosphere that prevailed, according to many participants.
This year, however, the committee has formally responded in a positive manner with a policy to put a stop to the situation, Gladstone said.
“They said these are rogue groups that act without authority.” Still, “we’re concerned, because the grand marshall [El-Farouk Khaki] is a featured speaker of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid.”
Update: Anti-Israel banners are OK.....
It looks like Queers Against Israeli Apartheid will be marching....
Pride Toronto will permit groups to march in next month's parade with banners reading "End Israeli Apartheid," as long as they are officially registered.
Last year, a group called Queers Against Israeli Apartheid joined the march from the sidelines with similar banners, causing discomfort to organizers, according to Pride executive Tracey Sandilands. This week, she issued a statement clarifying that no unauthorized marchers would be permitted and political messages would be vetted.
She also said El-Farouk Khaki, the parade's grand marshall who drew condemnation from a Jewish group by speaking at a QuAIA event last weekend, is not an official spokesman and has promised not to speak about Israel in his official capacity.
Ms. Sandilands' approval of "Israeli apartheid" banners comes after Pride Toronto said all participants must carry messages "supportive of the LGBTTIQQ2S community," and that it would refuse permits to any group that violates its discrimination policy.
2 comments:
If gays, lesbians, and others can't speak out in support of other communities in the world, why should heterosexuals speak out in support for the LGBT community?
Gay rights are not my concern.
Women's rights are not my concern.
Rights for those with a disability are not my concern.
Religious rights for particular relgions are not my concern.
Rights for people whose skin colour may be dark than mine are not my concern.
Palestinian rights are not my concern.
Anyone who has followed my postings over the years know that I do not accept blame for my ancestors, I support free speech and freedom of expression as long as I can make comments without being labelled. I don't believe in special treatment BUT I do believe in equal opportunity as long as it is on a level playing field.
You are entitled to show concern only for those things that you "live" by but I think your position is such that one day you will wake up and find one of those groups that are not your concern has accomplished something that will come back to bite you in the ass.
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