I was one of many at Brent's 60th birthday celebrations last night. It was wonderful. A legacy fund is being started in his honour, a fine tribute to a fine man. Any others there?
Celebrating Rev. Brent Hawkes
Thu, 2010-07-15 08:37
#1
Celebrating Rev. Brent Hawkes
Thu, 2010-07-15 10:34
#2
I wasn't there but I did find this http://twitter.com/matthewcutler/status/18603632125 on a twitter board I follow. Seems like it was a good time.
Thu, 2010-07-15 11:28
#3
Sorry, I missed the festivities. I just couldn't bring myself to celebrate the birthday of [url=http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/pride/article/831832]a post-G20 fan of Chief Bill Blair[/url]:
After the G20 weekend, several members of the gay community accused police of homophobia and abuse of gay detainees. At a Pride event last Tuesday, 100 protesters attempted to block Blair’s entry to the event and called for his resignation.
At the service, Rev. Brent Hawkes addressed the controversy and threw his support full-heartedly behind Blair. He told the 100-person-plus congregation that he was embarrassed by the reception some members in the gay community gave to Blair at the event last Tuesday.
“There is no one I want more to lead us than Chief Bill Blair,” Hawkes said to relatively muted applause in the crowd.
Unless, of course, he was misquoted...
Thu, 2010-07-15 12:56
#4
my understanding is that the previous chief (fantino) didnt have a good relationship with the gay community and Blair is an improvement in that regard. Still, Blair's outright lying was disgraceful and I don't like Hawkes taking one issue and using that as a reason to support him. Blair should resign.
Thu, 2010-07-15 13:31
#5
bagkitty
Well that is an interesting perspective Unionist... but seeing as how Hawkes was instrumental in using "diverse tactics" (and I think you would probably agree that exploiting the priviliged role granted to religious institutions to bypass civil authorities and challenge the old definition of marriage was a truly novel tactic) to advance that dreaded "Gay Agenda" and I think, within the context of this particular forum, it is slightly churlish to announce that you couldn't bring yourself to celebrate.
To refresh a few memories, here is a brief summation of how that particular tactic was employed:
On January 14, 2001, Hawkes gained national attention by performing a wedding ceremony for two same-sex couples at the Metropolitan Community Church. Although city clerks would not issue marriage licenses for same-sex marriages at this time, Hawkes employed the alternative provided in Ontario law for regular church attendees to publish official banns for three consecutive weeks, and thereby conducted a legal marriage without requiring prior government permission. In the spirit of the banns as a public opportunity for interested parties to raise legal objections, the church also issued a press release in late 2000 announcing its intentions. The government of Jean Chrétien did not endorse the marriages, although Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson sent a personal letter of support. The city clerk refused to register the record of marriage, leading to a court battle. On July 12, 2002, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that the marriages performed by Hawkes in January 2001 were legal, but stayed its decision pending a possible appeal, and on June 10, 2003, the Court of Appeal for Ontario affirmed this, and striking down all barriers against same-sex marriage in the province, with immediate effect.
I am not saying that your objections to his (Hawkes') support for Police Chief Bill Blair are wrong, just that they are (literally) misplaced. I am questioning your choice of forum in which to air them. As I pointed out in the thread started by 6079_Smith_W about the the statue of Nellie McClung unveiled in Winnipeg (before it was whisked away from the Western Provinces forum) we need to have a discussion about our society's "penchant for trying to establish heroes" (and its inescapable twin... the compulsion a lot of us feel to jump up and down and draw attention to the feet of clay of these heroes). But as much as we need that discussion, I don't think this is the particular forum to be doing it in.
So yeah, Happy Birthday to Brent.
Thu, 2010-07-15 13:58
#6
Good for you bagkitty!! I simply cannot stand those who will throw in the garbage a lifetime of achievemnet based on one perceived mistake.
Brent Hawkes is a true hero in the LGBTQ community. He has led hunger strikes and has put himself in harms way on behalf of LGBTQ. He deserves our respect and thanks. Unionist should really apolgize but I won't hold my breath.
Thu, 2010-07-15 14:20
#7
[emphasis added]
I am not saying that your objections to his (Hawkes') support for Police Chief Bill Blair are wrong, just that they are (literally) misplaced. I am questioning your choice of forum in which to air them.
Like, it's ok to talk about Israeli apartheid, but not at a Pride event?
Am I allowed to add this about Mr. Hawkes:
Bowing to pressure, Pride’s board voted to ban the phrase “Israeli Apartheid.” But then, finally getting themselves some advice from community mentors — the very moderate lawyer Douglas Elliott and Israeli-flag-waving Rev. Brent Hawkes — the board rescinded the ban last week. The change of heart appeased LGBT activists who oppose censorship. But without a court ruling or a city statement on whether the phrase violates the antidiscrimination policy — the lawyers I’ve talked to think it does not — Mammoliti and Ford have been given free rein to throw around the word “hate,” all they want, just like they have tried to tar gay people as AIDS-infected deviants in the past. Trying to play the Jewish community off against the LGBT community in order to back Smitherman into a corner, the “hate”-loving duo seems eager to make Torontonians forget their shared histories: “Israeli Apartheid” or not, both of them would jump at any opportunity to deprive queers of funding.
Source: [url=http://www.eyeweekly.com/city/pride%20guide%202010/article/96157--politi...
By the way, I see a difference between forgiving Nellie McClung for her eugenics - and forgiving Tommy Douglas for calling homosexuality a "mental disease" - versus a public figure saying outrageous things in 2010, in the very wake of a wholesale onslaught on civil liberties.
ETA: And by the way, bagkitty, I have nothing but appreciation for Rev. Hawkes' activism in support of LGBTQ rights. But the particular example you cite - conducting a same-sex marriage in 2001 - wasn't exactly groundbreaking. I very well remember such a marriage that was groundbreaking, but it was in 1974 in Manitoba, conducted by a Unitarian minister. The newlyweds were Chris Vogel and Rich North.
Thu, 2010-07-15 14:58
#8
bagkitty
Unionist: Nope, it is not at all like saying talking about Israeli Apartheid has no place in Pride... if I had suggested that your comments had no place on babble your analogy would be a correct one, but that is very cleary not what I was suggesting. I was talking more along the lines of that the JDL had no right to step in amongst the QAIA delegation at Pride and that the marshals were correct in chasing them away. In my little worm's eye view of things, the LGBT forum is like a delegation and babble is more like the parade as a whole. I considered my posting to be more of a cautionary wave of the finger or a little nudge than a kick in the arse... an attempt at internal self-governance if you will.
As to whether or not the quote you presented in your second posting is "allowable" - my response would be "I have no idea". On the face of it seems in compliance with the rules governing babble as a whole, it seems to me a very accurate and well written little snippet of analysis... but if you are really concerned about whether or not it is "allowable" I would strongly encourage you to consult with the moderators. Personally I think it constitutes significant drift from the OP, but if causing drift were not "allowable" I am certain I myself would have been banned in the first few weeks of my participating here.
Frankly (and I do a much better Frank than I do a Shirley), I was trying to avoid saying anything that was along the lines of calling for the LGBT forum to become a closed or protected space... but I also don't want it to be treated as just another place to track mud all over the carpet. I am not saying this space is like a valuable Persian carpet, but it is the only rug the LGBT communities have here on babble. Maybe we need a rubber mat at the door.
Fri, 2010-07-16 09:17
#9
Has anyone actually seen the video that Gus linked? Its actually a pretty funny tribute by the CJC to Hawkes. Leaving aside some differences I have with Farber, he can be pretty self-depracating in a real funny way and this time on behalf of Brent Hawkes who many agree is a good and decent man.
Fri, 2010-07-16 09:21
#10
Cueball
Hey Bernie! How is it going?
Fri, 2010-07-16 16:12
#11
bagkitty
Good for you bagkitty!! I simply cannot stand those who will throw in the garbage a lifetime of achievemnet based on one perceived mistake.
Brent Hawkes is a true hero in the LGBTQ community. He has led hunger strikes and has put himself in harms way on behalf of LGBTQ. He deserves our respect and thanks. Unionist should really apolgize but I won't hold my breath.
Gus, Gus, Gus, you misunderstood my point entirely. I have no problem with people tossing hefty bags at other people's idols. My sole concern in that department is with who does it and in which venue. I am personally very suspicious of heroes/idols... and probably fall more into the camp of those who want to jump up and down shouting "feet of clay, feet of clay" than those who want to hand out laurel wreaths. I would be so bold as to suggest that we should be paying attention to actions and lauding or condemning the actions themselves rather than lionizing or pillorizing individuals. Hence my repeating my observation that we really need a serious discussion of this whole idea of heroes. At the same time, I do have a sense of propriety (possibly bourgeois) and still think churlishness is something that should be avoided in most circumstances.