Let Pride Toronto know that you support Queers Against Israeli Apartheid marching in Toronto Pride

Dear Pride Toronto,

I just wanted to write and congratulate you for your strong decision to stand firm against the orchestrated pressure campaign spearheaded by pro-Israeli pressure groups, as well as the right-wing media onslaught, regarding the inclusion of QuAIA in the Pride festivities this year. 

I would also like to congratulate you on your excellent choice of Grand Marshal, El-Farouk Khaki.  El-Farouk is a principled, joyful, and all-around amazing activist, and I can't think of anyone who would better represent Pride this year.

I am looking forward to attending the celebrations, and seeing people of all political stripes participating, including QuAIA and El-Farouk Khaki. 

Sincerely, etc.

Cool letter, Michelle.

I'll be with the QAIA contingent on Pride Sunday.

Maysie have a great time at the parade.

Thanks johnpauljones.

I just got a thank you email from Pride, appreciating the support.

Sorry I missed walk for Israel.

I just sent mine. Thank you

Dear Pride Toronto
 
I want to thank you for your choice of El-Farouk Khaki as grand marshal. I regularly attended Pride and for me, Pride was, is and should be a political event. There is nothing more important than to stand up for human rights during any Pride events. We must stand in soldarity with the stateless, improvish, and oppressed Palestinians. Gay rights are important, but gay right is part of Human Rights, and Human Rights is the universal right we should all fight for , if we truely believe in the message of Pride. There is nothing discriminatory about stating the truth that Israel is an Apartheid. As queers, we have an extra responsibility to speak the truth and support our marignalized sisters and brothers despite personal differences.
 
Regards

I just sent mine:

Dear Pride Toronto:

While I support the right of QuAIA to passionately voice their opinion, I do not support the Pride Parade being used as the vehicle. I fully appreciate that Pride began as a political statement, but I understood that statement to be one of inclusion not exclusion. Referring to those who support the Jewish State of Israel as supporters of Apartheid labels these folk as racists. Not only is the "apartheid" label wrong and offensive it in the end may ironically establish a barrier to inclusiveness.

Being targeted as a racist is ugly. Please I implore all who attend the parade on the 28th to come and celebrate inclusiveness. Keep this as a festival not another opportunity to engage in political debate. Goodness knows there are more than enough forums for that,

Winnifred Martin

Clever. I like the way you are calling for exclusion on the basis of protecting "inclusivity". Nice!

The cognitive dissonance expressed here is incredible.

I went to Pride Toronto. I just want to report what i have seen.

I saw many people waving israelie flag, they were on one of the floats. Some booing, but not much. I didnt catch up to see Queers against the Israelie Aparthied, but I was marching alone on the side of the street (not part of the parade) holding a sign that protests against the Israelie Aparthied.

I saw few people walking around with signs like "Israel Recognizes Same sex marriage", I also had a sign that reads "Love Jews, Hate Aparthied", I feel like I need to make a statement because I didn't see anybody doing anything.

One girl yelled at me that she was a Jew, but bascially, i wasn't harmed or anything, people were  merely looking at my message as I walked by them.

I wonder if Bernie Farber was there.

Did you demand they ban the Kelanu contingent too? Because in the event, the presence of a pro-Israel contingent and the QAIA contingent further back in the parade went off quite well, with inclusion for all viewpoints, fun had by all as per Farber's wishes (although the Kelanu contingent seemed to be more earnest than most), and no incidents of any sort. QAIA also carried banners saying "in solidarity with Palestinian queers" and expressed a positive message of support for human rights. Just as it should be in a Pride parade. The Pride committeee handled this exceptionally well, quite a success story all round despite the attempts by some to silence freedom of expression.

--

"One law for the lion and the ox is oppression" - Blake

More earnest than the sparkly boys on the MAC truck? Is that possible?

But seriously, QuAIA had a huge contingent, and kudos to Pride Toronto for doing the right and fair thing.

[Edited for clarity.]

I agree. I was happy to see Kulanu out in such large numbers and the overwhelmingly positive response they received from the laerge crowd. By the way did anybody else get the condoms being handed out by Kulanu? On the packaging it read "Israel, still a safe place to come"

Haw haw, that's hilarious.  Israel, still a safe place to come as long as you're not Palestinian.  Otherwise, it's an apartheid state run by racist war criminals like Sharon.

Haw haw, that is hilarious. Palestinian gays feel to Israel . Israel is a safer place for Palestinian gays than Palestinian territories.

- From the mission statement of Aswat, a Palestinian gay women's organization, which endorsed QuAIA.

Try being gay in the PA.

Try being an Israeli gay with a Palestinian boyfriend and dealing with racism AND homophobia in Israel:

Apartheid sucks.  And so do those who make excuses for it and pretend it doesn't exist.

There are many stories all the way around that are outrageous.

Link here. 

Check out "latest news"

You mean this one, as it is the only Israel snippet in latest news section:

I think it is pretty shoddy of you to indicate a link, without a snippet, IMV, said reluctance to speak/post a snippet about HIV infection rates rising, really indicates a disparagement of homosexuals. In fact, it is in line with what the "task force" is not doing, but pretending they are, that is contained within the article.

Quite right Remind.

Actually, I meant this one:

http://tinyurl.com/m6w6dv

Winnifred, your link goes to a page featuring Gay Middle East News:

- Pride in Tel Aviv

- hundreds attend lesbian book launch in Beirut

- report on thriving gay scene in Amman

- CNN reports anti-gay sentiment in Iraq

- gay ralliy in Beirut

- homosexuality on the rise in Egypt

The reviews of the "Arab world" at your link are pretty much all good news, with the exception of the latest US colony. Was that what you meant to tell us? If so, thanks for the news.

Fyi, because of some formatting snafus I have edited posts #20 and #21 for readability only.

They are certainly very brave for taking the stand that they have.

Some of the folks from the pro-Israel contingent at Pride went over to the QuAIA contingent to yell at people, and one of the "Totally Naked Toronto Men" didn't like it, so he asked them to stop.

Warning, nudity (nsfw): http://twitpic.com/8zovf

Spatrioter, I'm not exactly sure what yout point is with your last post.

Huh?

That people from the pro-Israelis crowd took it upon themselves to go yell at another group participating in the parade, is of note. Who do they fucking think they are anyway?

Well firstly, you don't know that they were with any group. They are two people who carried flags of Israel. They may have been loners. I don't think its appropriate to make claims you cannot back up.

Are you suggesting they broke parade rules and entered  the parade without be registered, in order to confront  QuAIA?

Perhaps they did. How do you know they were in the parade? Who were they with? Can you tell us for certain they were part of the Jewish group that marched?

Obscuring the fact that they had no business doing what they did,  by arguing about  whether  they entered the parade illegally, or were part of the pro-Israel contingent, is a pretty funny propaganda ploy.

I can tell you for certain they were with the pro-Israel contingent, and when the parade advanced they stopped so they could yell at QuAIA as they passed by.  I was there.  Were you, Winnifred?

Just wondering why there were  people dressed up as terrorists with kefiyah's covering their faces in the QuAIA contingent?  What does terrorism and gay pride have in common??  Just curious??

Really?  You're calling QuAIA terrorists?  Really?  This is happening?

reported

spatrioter - you cannot read.  I said "dressed up as terrorists" - ie: Halloween, costumes, etc.

Terrorists, indeed!

Not reported.  PHOTOGRAPHED.  FILMED.  100% TRUE.

Then I guess everyone who wears a yarmulke at a Support Israel Day parade is a settler terrorist.

And if you are actually Arab, I'm the Queen of England.

Wearing Kefiyah is now a terrorist act.

I always knew you were the Queen!

My apologies, I thought I had locked ArabCan's account a few hours ago. Never been very good at buttons and stuff. It's fixed now.

....hmmm, if it wasn't ArabCan, who's account did I lock?...

Apparently wearing a keffiyeh is a terrorist act, but not throwing a glass bottle at QuAIA and injuring parade participants.

Remind: "Are you suggesting they broke parade rules and entered the parade without be registered, in order to confront QuAIA?

I responded as follows: "Perhaps they did. How do you know they were in the parade? Who were they with? Can you tell us for certain they were part of the Jewish group that marched?"

Then you had the gall to post:

Remind: "Obscuring the fact that they had no business doing what they did, by arguing about whether they entered the parade illegally, or were part of the pro-Israel contingent, is a pretty funny propaganda ploy."

That's so strange, Winnifred, because over here you said: "Also the Kulanu group were loudly cheered in my area (Yonge and Dundas) where I watched the parade."

Even though the parade never went past Yonge and Dundas.

So were you lying here or there?  What else are you lying about?  And why?

Actually I marched down Yonge St with Kulanu for a while then decided to watch from where I thought was Yonge and Dundas. I'm just not as young as I once was. These were the women I saw

http://twitpic.com/8zovf As you can see they were not on the road or part of the kulanu group. Though I guess they could have enetered the parade later on after I left to watch. Sorry for the confusion.

So you marched with Kulanu, then you hopped the barricades and watched Kulanu march by a second time?

No, I marched with Kulanu a short while . The at a busy intersection I polietly asked an Officer if I could move into the crowd while there was a slowdown in the parade. I know you want to throw this off over nothing and I undersatnd your need to do this but let's move on.

Yes, I think people are already aware that you're a liar.  Let's move on.

I find it interesting that some Babblers are able to attack other Babblers like this. I thought it wasn't permitted. People who resort to vile name-calling can be judged on their own. I have told the truth and you wish to simply change the subject to me. I understand that when you seem lost that's a good defence. So it is.

I am sorry i missed the excitement at the pride parade :-). I am sure both sides did their best to get their message out. what better example of canadian society then to have to differing views at the same parade in mostly peace and harmony

only in Canada eh

Fake Jewish Tolerance Vs Vile Israeli Aggression

http://palestinethinktank.com/2009/08/03/gilad-atzmon-fake-jewish-tolera...

"How many times have we heard about Islam, Muslims and Arabs being slammed for being reactionary on Gay Rights? The Jewish state, in spite of its relentless effort to prove otherwise, is one of the least tolerant places on this planet.."

This comment above by NoDifference is gratuitous bullshit. That one crazed Israeli extremist (do we know his faith?) commits a hate crime is not an indictment against all of Israel...except in the minds of those who so want it to be.

Israel is an indictment against Israel, is it not?

I hate the words Queer and straight. I also wish these parades didn't often have such a circus theme.

I did an image search for gay on google. Three of the lovely images gracing thefirst page.

Maybe one day when someone thinks of gay this kind of image will be what the media enforces

Seriously?

Seriously.

Take offense if you want but I hate the image the media seems more than happy to project of the gay community.

What on earth does this have to do with this thread, in any way?  If you have a problem with gay pride parades in general, this is not the thread to go on about it.  Or the web site, really.

Sorry I'm going off on a tangent. I just have an issue with the parades and how flamboyant they usually are. Not all of us wear leather and feathered boa's. Sorry girls an boys.

Are Queers Against Israeli Apartheid doing anything in support of Ezra Nawi?  Here's a good blog about him from Peter Tatchell in The Independent:

I've just heard about this man's case, and was thinking of starting a thread about him.  Would it be more appropriate to do so in this thread or in International News And Politics?