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

63 posts / 0 new

Thu, 2009-06-18 08:09

Maysie

Quote:

Support Pride Toronto's decision to allow freedom of expression!

As you may have heard, some groups out there are really pissed off that Queers Against Israeli Apartheid will be marching in the Pride parade this year.

The Toronto Sun quoted some straight people saying that Pride shouldn't be a political event, and that people are "outraged" over the choice of a Muslim as grand marshal for the parade.

As a result, we have learned that Pride Toronto is receiving steady emails from outraged readers of the Toronto Sun (and you can imagine how legible they are). We can only imagine what other emails are going to Pride's corporate and government funders.

THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We know that the community supports our inclusion in the Pride parade and the choice of El-Farouk Khaki as grand marshal. We saw your outrage when the National Post falsely reported that we were banned. We need to mobilize that energy again to show the Pride Committee that we support their decision to allow freedom of expression and that we will defend them against attacks to their funding.

Please take a few seconds to email Pride Toronto now and thank them for making the right decision:[email protected] Please copy us ([email protected]) on any emails you send. Thanks!

Thu, 2009-06-18 16:21

Michelle

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.

Thu, 2009-06-18 17:03

Maysie

Cool letter, Michelle.

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

Thu, 2009-06-18 17:15

johnpauljones

Maysie have a great time at the parade.

Thu, 2009-06-18 20:37

Maysie

Thanks johnpauljones.

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

Thu, 2009-06-18 21:00

Cueball

johnpauljones wrote:

Maysie have a great time at the parade.

Sorry I missed walk for Israel.

Thu, 2009-06-18 21:08

takeitslowly

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

Fri, 2009-06-19 15:23

Winnifred

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

Fri, 2009-06-19 15:39

Cueball

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

Fri, 2009-06-19 19:44

#10

al-Qa'bong

Quote:
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.

The cognitive dissonance expressed here is incredible.

Mon, 2009-06-29 18:24

#11

takeitslowly

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.

Mon, 2009-06-29 19:06

#12

Lord Palmerston

I wonder if Bernie Farber was there.

Tue, 2009-06-30 10:08

#13

Winnifred wrote:
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

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

Tue, 2009-06-30 10:24

#14

Maysie

Ze wrote:
although the Kelanu contingent seemed to be more earnest than most

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.]

Tue, 2009-06-30 11:20

#15

Winnifred

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"

Tue, 2009-06-30 12:05

#16

Michelle

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.

Tue, 2009-06-30 12:40

#17

Ghislaine

Michelle wrote:

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. [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3211772.stm] Palestinian gays feel to Israel [/url]. Israel is a safer place for Palestinian gays than Palestinian territories.

Tue, 2009-06-30 13:30

#18

spatrioter

Quote:
As Palestinian women living inside the borders of Israel or in the Occupied Territories under Israeli occupation, we belong to an internally displaced population that does not enjoy equality in power, resources, education, culture, or religion. In addition to our feminist struggle for equal rights, privilege and opportunity in our society, we are at the same time very much part of a national struggle for recognition in our civil minority rights (Palestinian who live in Israel comprise about 20% of the population of Israel).

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

Tue, 2009-06-30 14:43

#19

Winnifred

Try being gay in the PA.

Tue, 2009-06-30 15:37

#20

Michelle

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

Quote:

Mr. Nawi attributes his activism to two things: as a teenager, his family lived next door to the leader of Israel’s Communist Party, Reuven Kaminer, who influenced him. And he is gay.

“Being gay has made me understand what it is like to be a despised minority,” Mr. Nawi said.

Several years ago, he had a relationship with a Palestinian from the West Bank and ended up being convicted on charges of allowing his companion to live illegally in Israel. His companion was jailed for months.

Mr. Nawi said harassment against him had come in many forms. Settlers shout vicious antigay epithets. His plumbing business has been audited, and he was handed a huge tax bill that he said he did not deserve. He is certain that his phone calls are monitored. And those army jeeps are never far behind.

He is not optimistic about his coming sentencing, although he is planning an appeal. And he says the Israeli news media have lost interest in the work he and his fellow activists do. But he does not stop.

“I’m here to change reality,” he said. “The only Israelis these people know are settlers and soldiers. Through me they know a different Israeli. And I’ll keep coming until I know that the farmers here can work their fields.”

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

Tue, 2009-06-30 16:31

#21

Winnifred

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

Link here.

Check out "latest news"

Tue, 2009-06-30 18:59

#22

remind

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

Quote:

80% rise in HIV infections among gays

A new report presented to the Health Ministry recently indicated a concerning rise in the number of HIV positive homosexuals living in Israel. Full Story

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.

Tue, 2009-06-30 19:44

#23

Winnifred

Quite right Remind.

Actually, I meant this one:

http://tinyurl.com/m6w6dv

Tue, 2009-06-30 20:19

#24

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.

Tue, 2009-06-30 20:47

#25

Maysie

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

Wed, 2009-07-01 11:19

#26

Fidel

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

Wed, 2009-07-01 19:13

#27

spatrioter

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

Wed, 2009-07-01 22:30

#28

Winnifred

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

Thu, 2009-07-02 08:45

#29

remind

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?

Thu, 2009-07-02 11:06

#30

Winnifred

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.

Thu, 2009-07-02 11:17

#31

remind

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

Thu, 2009-07-02 11:29

#32

Winnifred

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?

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:12

#33

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.

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:15

#34

spatrioter

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?

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:22

#35

ArabCan

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??

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:28

#36

spatrioter

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

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:43

#37

remind

ArabCan wrote:
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??

reported

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:44

#38

ArabCan

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

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:49

#39

spatrioter

Terrorists, indeed!

QuAIA

Thu, 2009-07-02 12:49

#40

ArabCan

remind wrote:

ArabCan wrote:
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??

reported

Not reported. PHOTOGRAPHED. FILMED. 100% TRUE.

Thu, 2009-07-02 13:03

#41

ArabCan

Thu, 2009-07-02 13:10

#42

Cueball

Wearing Kefiyah is now a terrorist act.

Thu, 2009-07-02 13:10

#43

josh

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.

Thu, 2009-07-02 13:11

#44

Cueball

josh wrote:

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.

I always knew you were the Queen!

Thu, 2009-07-02 13:29

#45

oldgoat

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?...

Thu, 2009-07-02 13:31

#46

spatrioter

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

Thu, 2009-07-02 14:23

#47

Winnifred

spatrioter wrote:

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?

Yes I was and I walked with Kulanu. I saw these two women on the sidewalk. I did not see them march with Kulanu. They stayed on the other side of the barriers. In fact a Kul;anu marshall asked why they wouldnt join and they said "because we are not gay!!" Go figure. And Remind let me remind you that you in fact brought up the issue of whether or not they were in the actual parade. Here is your post:

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."

Thu, 2009-07-02 15:04

#48

spatrioter

Winnifred wrote:
Yes I was and I walked with Kulanu.

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?

Thu, 2009-07-02 15:51

#49

Winnifred

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.

Thu, 2009-07-02 15:54

#50

spatrioter

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

Thu, 2009-07-02 16:06

#51

Winnifred

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.

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

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