This week in Toronto is Gay Pride. Additionally, this Friday, July 1st, is Canada Day. Certainly, it is a weekend of many happenings here in Toronto. And the one person, who will be missing from all this excitement, is none other but Mayor Rob Ford.
While, Toronto is not my hometown and I’m not gay, I do believe this week’s Gay Pride is important to the city… and even Canada. Toronto boasts a very diverse and multicultural community. Events like Gay Pride, Carabanna, and Taste of the Danforth help celebrate its diversity.
The newly appointed mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, has noted he will not be attending this year’s Gay Pride because he will be spending time with his family at the cottage. While, I can appreciate family time, it really wouldn’t take too much time or effort to come out, say some words of support and return to his family. He could even do a cameo appearance. After all, he is the mayor.
Toronto embraces its diversity and any mayor of Toronto should also embrace and show their support of what it means to live in Toronto. If there are elements of diversity one doesn’t agree with… well they shouldn’t be the mayor of Toronto in the first place. Moreover, the job isn’t just a 9 to 5 position. It involves coming out and being involved in the various major activities of Toronto.
Gay Pride in Toronto is actually the largest in North America, allowing Toronto to benefit in various ways including financially (from all the revenue it generates)… Something any mayor can appreciate. By not making time (no matter how small) for this weekend’s event sends a message of NOT supporting gays. Ironically, Mayor Rob Ford was unavailable for the Gay Pride Flag raising yesterday. Coincidence???
People are entitled to have their opinions on various issues. However, anyone desiring to be the Mayor of Toronto needs to be a support of gays as well as all diversity in general…. Diversity is Toronto!
4 comments:
Nicole - I salute the "Elected" Mayor of Toronto Rob Ford for not going. He is standing by his beliefs and being true to himself, his family and his Christianity. Pride week and/or parade is not a part of the official duties of the Mayor, but would be a selected duty if the Mayor should believe in the activity and lifestyle. He doesn't, so he won't!
I strongly disagree with this statement. Pride is a major international festival that is a huge economic boon for the city as well as providing significant international exposure for the city. The economic business of Toronto is the mayor's business as such he should support the festival since it is in the best intereset of the city, his personal predispositions should not stand in the way of benefiting Toronto. It's one thing not to attend the parades, I have no qualms with that, but to explicitly avoid any promotion or opportunity to officialy endorse the 10 day festival through his position as the mayor (not his personal time but the time he's paid for by his constituants) for all the good it does for the city (from hotels to restaurants to taxis and airlines) is unacceptable and is a deficiency in his responsibilities.
Totally agree with Maciej... it is responsibility to help support everything that happens in TO. He is the public figure that represents us and if he does not feel it is his role then he should check himself and take a good look in the mirror. Diversity is something we all love and appreciate in Canada. I wonder how many IIFA (Bollywood version of the Oscars) events he attended. Made an appearance there, doesn't know a lick about Bollywood yet won't go to support something in his city that has been here for years. He knew that he would have to be there - how convenient he makes a plan to not be here.. Didn't have the erghm to raise the flag... Pathetic...
Well said Nicole. Mayor Ford should step up to the plate and support the event in some fashion. Appearance, cameo, etc. would go along way. Divisive politics of any sort sends the wrong message.
Nicole, have a wonderful Canada Day and 4th of July celebrations.
Ray
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