City
Rob Ford to skip 2012 Pride Parade
After refusing to say one way or another whether he would attend the 2012 Pride Parade yesterday, Rob Ford has now confirmed that he will once again skip the event, which takes place on July 1. The reason is the same as it was last year — the mayor plans instead to trek up to the family cottage in Muskoka. I doubt this'll come as a shock to anyone, but the big question that remains is whether he will participate in any of the other Pride-related events that lead up the main parade (his comments to reporters left a window open for this).
I'm not exactly sure what else there is to say about this matter that wasn't covered last year. Of the mayor's many failings in the leadership department, it would appear that he suffers from the most damning inability of all: he doesn't learn from his mistakes. One wonders if the decision will generate as much controversy as it did last year — but does it really matter? He should be at the parade. Full stop.
Photo by Martin Reis in the blogTO Flickr pool
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At this point I don't think anyone wants Ford at Pride parade. He should go to some smaller event, he would kind of ruin the fun of the parade. When I think Ford I don't think friendly, open, or fun.
Besides, you just know people are going to be heckling him or, worse, tossing things at him, and it becomes a whole shitstorm of controversy that Pride could really do without. Frankly, less is more with this guy, and he's doing Pride a favour.
Signed
Jay and Mark and MrPotato
Typist: namehijacked
From the Star:
'When pressed, Ford said “I take my invitations one day at a time as you know.”
Ford seemed more open to the idea in December, telling CP24 “everything depends on my schedule . . . if I can make it, I’ll make it.”'
But last year, he said he couldn't go because of a pre-existing annual engagement with his family. If that engagement was already scheduled, then why didn't he just say that in the first place? Sounds like to me, he scheduled his "pre-existing" engagement AFTER being invited to Pride. Sort of defeats his argument, IMO.
Ford takes a hit from different people if he goes to the Parade, doesn't go to the Parade but does go to Flag Raising or doesn't go to anything, but his current strategy is bizarre: why does he imagine the same "stick your head in the sand" strategy will work this year when it didn't last? I bet Adrienne Batra is glad she doesn't have to front for this fiasco AGAIN.
He has the freedom to go or not to this event or any of those.
WITH THAT SAID, I find a lot of these comments to be just rude. Becaues he doesnt attend the parade does not make him anti-gay or a coward or anything like that.
He has a family event. One he attended regularly before becoming mayor. Let the guy spend time with his family...jeez...how demanding are you people. Really, you should look at doing some self-reflection on this issue.
Also, fight this guy on more important issues. His attendance or lack of it at a parade arent the important issues. The important issues revolve around making this city a better place to live. The mayor at a parade is a symbol at best, but really not necessary for making the city better.
That said, the fact that it's on Canada Day should really embarrass the City. Not that Pride is happening on July 1, but that NOTHING else of note ever is. Toronto never really does much of note on Canada Day (not like Ottawa does, or every city and town in the US on July 4). There should be a large downtown parade, street festival, concerts, fireworks ... something.
Sure, there's always something to do (http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/06/canada_day_2011_events_in_toronto/), but considering we're the biggest city in the country, I always wished we would do more.
I think people should just move on and do it without him. He's a poor leader anyway. Why be so desperate for his endorsement?
It's the fact that Ford seems like he wants to just pretend that Pride doesn't even exist that bothers people.
Who gives a shit?
If pride is important to you, then go, but don't force people to go if they don't want, mayor or not.
Whatever the poor cocksucker does, he gets shit anyway.
But giving him shit for that is pointless and counter productive.
I think there is much more pressing matters than him going to pride right now.
Give him shit for the stuff that really matters.
Troll elsewhere.
That's what makes it a parade, you fool.
Your comments speak for themselves. I enjoy reading them. Cheers.
Stop the freakin' presses.
I mean, this is such a great opportunity for him to improve his image with the general public, most of whom have grown tired of his uncompromising and combative approach to governing.
But there you have it, folks: Rob Ford, a mayor who time after time pushes against the tide, refuses to see the other side of any policy argument (even despite huge evidence to the contrary)and displays the most breathtaking lack of political acuity I've ever seen in a modern politician.
Does the Gay & Lesbian community really want that idiot there?
And what does a straight, 45+, over-weight bumbling idiot need to be there for? Support?
People are making a big deal out of nothing.
Which parade are you attending? Because it's not the same Pride parade I attend every year. Yes, there are the requisite naked men, topless lesbians, and drag queens. But that's just good clean fun. For the most part the parade is made up of community groups. Churches, cops, firefighters, teachers, bank employees, airline employees, various ethnic groups, political groups, social action groups, health care groups, corporations, local businesses, etc. If he (and you, Mark) are against all of that then I guess he (and you, Mark) are against Toronto in general not to mention the entire freaking world.
It's time for you to grow up, haters. I know it's not easy. But it's something you need to do.
Rob Ford was invited because it was the right thing for the Pride committee to do. They were giving him another chance to redeem himself. To be the mayor of the biggest and gayest city in Canada. But again, he seems unwilling to do his job. Shame on him.
No one is forcing anyone to do anything. Pride extended an invitation to Mayor Ford and he declined. He isn't being forced to attend in any way, shape, or form. However, we are free to criticize this decision.
OMG... 'Mark'... ? Marcus Bachmann...? Hmmm....
All this matter does is highlight the man's lack of leadership, an issue which has come to the surface again and again during his short term. The fact that he needlessly pisses people off and refuses to budge, no matter how wrong his position, underscores this. The refusal to go to Pride is far from the only example.
That said, I also think its time to give this issue a rest. He ain't going, and no one is going to talk him into going, so that's that. Does it reflect poorly on him? Yes, but then this is just one of many things that reflect poorly on him. I think the effort is better spent working to make sure he doesn't get re-elected.
I love gay parades..just ask Mammo. I was going to post a video of him 'pulling a train' but there's some sticky stuff all over the disc. Here's one of me and Mammo tag teaming a hot ass reporter. I filed this one under "Seduction Strategies":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8EpSdyB0zY
You're missing the fact that the Pride events fall over an entire week, and last year he didn't go to any of them...not just the parade. And I don't get this "good for the guy for standing up for his beliefs!" stuff - are you suggesting that bigotry from a public servant in Canada in 2012 is defensible?
As well, it's not like RoFo is choosing between veterans and gay people. He'll be at his cottage downing beers and smashing burgers.
Are you blaming the entire gay population of Toronto for the scheduling decisions of the Pride organizing committee? Because that would be silly.
For what it's worth, I wish it was on a different weekend too. But believe me, NO ONE is prouder to be Canadian than queer Canadians.
Mark Towhey - Rob Ford's Policy Director
Twitter: @CrisisTweeter
The point isn't about left or right here (hell, the right has been nearly as vocal about this as the left). And I don't even consider myself left-wing. The point is this mayor has constantly refused to embrace any support (which he really, really needs right now) by looking beyond his own narrow point of view.
Breaking: Ford chose KFC over Popeye's. He is a bigot toward Cajun people.
For me this issue isn't about gay/straight, or right/left - it's the issue that a man who so clearly needs to up his game politically chooses to do the same bone-headed narrow-minded things he's done before. Is Rob Ford the same as Hitler for now showing up or participating? Obviously not. It's just another example of his inability to look beyond "Ford Nation", a mythical body whose population is fast shrinking.
I don't think Ford is actually anti-gay, I just think he is structurally incapable of being the Mayor. Missing, no, avoiding last year's Pride events was the tip-off to his bungling of every other big-city Mayor file in the last 12 months (unions excluded). It's unbelievable how dumb/stubborn he is to be doing this again.
There is literally no other Mayor of a major city in North America who boycotts Gay Pride. (Go ahead, name one, and no, Oklahoma City does not count). It's mind boggling.
All Ford had to do was say "No, I can't make the parade as like many of you I will be at the cottage that weekend. But as Mayor I definitely support this event and will certainly take part in other events that week during this very important festival for the City of Toronto."
Was that so hard?
(Doug, Robbie, and this Mark troll we've been having fun with)
I'll keep the rest of my thoughts to myself - I feel sorry for the ignorant and intolerant place those who share these kinds of opinions come from.
Well, these comments prove EXACTLY what I was saying. Half the people are mad at Ford for not going, the other half are saying "good we don't want him there anyways!"
It's just another reason why he'll be a one-term mayor. Get busy, gay people - find a quality alternative to Ford.
Anyway, the point is that no one forced Rob Ford to run for mayor, but he did, and god only knows how, but he got elected. Along with that comes a number of responsibilities. One which has been honoured for nearly two decades is attending pride.
You don't think this is going to affect his constituents and his approval rating? You're probably right; anyone with a brain gave up on this guy months ago, or couldn't have been bothered to go out and vote against him in the first place. However this is a continued embarrassment to the city, and frankly anyone who still supports the buffoon should be ashamed. This is just pure hate, and should not be tolerated. You take the oath of office, and I'm sorry, but your family weekend doesn't get first priority any more. Don't like that idea? You're not cut out to be mayor then.
The guy chose to be elected, and with that comes responsibilities. Not a priority for you? Fine, but you're not the mayor. If you want to be mayor, you have to do things, even if you might not like them. It's called an act of solidarity and it's not optional. But we don't have to worry about this, he'll only be invited to two more of these in an official capacity.
The celebration of his uncompromising nature has become less of a reactionary indictment of local politics than an embarrassment for the city as a whole.
I see it just like any other job of which mayor is a job. How many times have you had to work on a holiday and had to miss a family event for work?
Nuff said
No not a homophobe. I'm also against straight men and women cavorting in sweaty leather thongs and throwing their fleshy junk around in my streets strewn with dildoes, condoms, etc., like some Hieronymus Bosch hellscape. If you enjoy it, just know that there are many TO people who find it an abuse of free speech and civil rights and an infringement on our collective right to not have the Steamworks crew take over the streets.
MAYBE HE DOESNT BELIEVE IN WATCHING SWEATY PEOPLE MAKEOUT ON THE STREETS!!! I WOULDNT WANNA SEE THAT EITHER!
There should be decency in everything we do...Just because you're gay or straight doesnt mean you need to walk around naked and hump everything in sight.
my best friend is gay, and he's like not like that!
LEAVE the mayor alone...let him enjoy his weekend up north, like i'll be doing!
The Gay pride parade has gotten out of hand
The Pride parade seems as much about bringing sexuality out into the open as it is promoting gay rights. One of the biggest issues people have about teaching kids to be tolerant and accepting of gay kids is that they always think it inevitably leads to talking about sex, and everyone thinks of that as something that would mess a kid up. If we can somehow get ourselves to be more open and less ashamed of our own bodies maybe we can be more accepting of others'.
Let the man do as he pleases.
I think you are running out of arguments.
"The very least he could have done is say that while he can’t make the parade for family reasons, he fully supports the event and its aim of full inclusion of the gay community. Nothing doing. His silence leaves the unpleasant impression that he disapproves of Pride, or worse."
"Even his brother Doug is urging the mayor to attend some part of it."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/mayor-fords-decision-to-skip-pride-a-reminder-of-worst-aspects-of-his-leadership/article2407065/
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/04/19/ford-should-attend-pride-event
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/15/rob-fords-approval-rating-on-the-rise-but-voters-would-still-pick-karen-stintz-over-incumbent-mayor-new-poll/
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120420/120420_ford_approval/20120420/?hub=CP24Home
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/25/rob-ford-one-of-canadas-least-popular-mayors
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/04/20/call-it-a-parade-and-raise-the-flag