Citing the good of Pride Toronto, controversial group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) has officially opted not to march in this year's Pride Parade.
The group's involvement in Pride first caused an uproar in 2009, when its involvement brought about allegations of hate speech and human rights violations.The controversy continued through last year, with Pride at first banning the group and then rescinding the ban as proponents and opponents of the group argued over freedom of expression and whether the Pride Parade was the proper venue for QuAIA to promote its cause.That ongoing controversy led to the City of Toronto saying it would cut Pride funding for this year should QuAIA be allowed to march. That came after city manager Joe Pennachetti completed a report stating the group's name does not violate either Canada's Criminal Code or the Human Rights Code of Ontario.QuAIA spokesperson Tim McCaskell said Pennachetti's report represented a "major victory" for the group, but said Mayor Rob Ford's threat to cut funding forced his organization to withdraw from the Parade."We thought it would be a hollow victory if we won the right to march but there was no march at all," he said.McCaskell said QuAIA feared Ford would get the necessary support to deny Pride's funding had his organization continued with its plan to march in the parade.McCaskell added that QuAIA still plans to host its own activities during Pride Week to spread its message, but said withdrawing from the parade would put Ford's feet to the fire in terms of the funding issue."The ball's in (his) court now," he said of Ford.For his part, Ford said that the Pride parade will receive its funding of $128,000 - but only after the event, when it's clear that QuAIA hasn't taken part."Last year council agreed that if they (QuAIA) don't go, they'll get their money after the parade," he said. "I don't see why we should change the agreement. After the parade if they don't march, they'll get their money. If they do march, they won't get their money."Ford said he hadn't spoken with Ward 7 Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, who has vowed to move a motion removing all of Pride Toronto's funding unless it provides a letter guaranteeing that QuAIA won't participate in the event.In an interview Friday, Mammoliti said the only assurance he'll accept is a letter from Pride Toronto - but he said that because next week marks the Jewish holiday Passover, it's unlikely the matter of funding will be dealt with before May."It's Passover, so we can't deal with this at executive next week. It'll be deferred until May at which point Pride Toronto will have lots of time to tell us what they're going to be doing. If they don't give us that assurance, we'll have no choice."- with files from David Nickle