Pride parade funded - Conservatives in a tizzy - Ablonczy demoted

[Pastiche]

http://www.thestar.com/article/662566

Toronto's Pride Week may have seen its last cheque from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government after this year's $400,000 contribution provoked a backlash from within the ranks of MPs and Conservative supporters.



And Tourism Minister Diane Ablonczy appears to have been disciplined for the controversy, losing her power to announce handouts from the $190 million Marquee Tourism Events Program, which gave money to the event.



Brad Trost, a Saskatchewan Conservative MP, spoke out this week against federal support for Pride Week, arguing that the caucus and Harper's office were caught off guard by Ablonczy's announcement of support for the event.



"The pro-life and the pro-family community should know and understand that the tourism funding money that went to the gay pride parade in Toronto was not government policy, was not supported by – I think it's safe to say by a large majority – of the MPs," Trost said in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com, a website founded by the Campaign Life organization.

Sad that another Calgary MP finds their way out of Cabinet.


Another quote said that the Toronto pride parade is a political event not a tourist one and that is why the federal government should not be supporting it. Odd because the pride parade is the single biggest tourist event in Toronto.

[BlackEleven]

"The pro-life and the pro-family community should know and understand that the tourism funding money that went to the gay pride parade in Toronto was not government policy..."

Huh? Pro Life? Why would they care? In fact, logically they should be happy about it. The gay sex abortion rate is zero....

[starseed]

When I first heard about Pride Week landing federal funding from a conservative government, my head nearly exploded. I started thinking that maybe they are not the narrow-minded evil people I thought they were. After this story broke out, the world suddenly made sense again.

To keep this in perspective, Pride in Toronto generates ~$100 million for the local economy, the Stampede generates ~$345 million and each got stimulus money to the tune of 400K and 2 million respectively. Both needed the cash, and in both instances all levels of government are seeing a return on their investment.

So this really is not news, everyone knows that when the two right wing parties merged, they dropped the 'progressive' from party policy. Joe Clark was even the grand marshall for a Calgary gay pride parade.

[Traditional_Ale]

Yawn.

Why don't we just exterminate all the bigots? Its cheaper, quicker, and more fun than waiting for natural causes.

I'm not gay, but I seriously empathize with the gay community for having entirely inconsequential BS tossed around the media by a bunch of obsolete dinosaurs.

Grow up, gov't of Canada.

[Bunk]

Another example of how the bible-thumping neanderthal social conservatives still have a lot of sway in the Conservative Party.

Sad.

I like how 'Kool Maudit' of another forum put it:

social conservatism is a detestable force at the moment. it brings out all of the most mobby, witchburning, slur-using and hateful elements.

perhaps at other historical moments it has been a force for good. it is not now. it is a multiplier of the unbeautiful.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Allright, I'm not going to comment on the gay pride parade getting funding because I don't have all of the facts.

However, does anyone else think that gay pride parades actually do more harm than good as far as acceptance of being gay goes?
When I see any sort of coverage of a gay pride parade, all I notice are the groups of "Mr. Slave" wannabes wandering down the street half naked.

Why is it that a gay pride parade seems to be more like a weird fettish pride parade.
Isn't that exactly the stereotypes that the gay community would rather not have associated with them?

Maybe I'm way off base here, and maybe there are big gay marching bands that follow the leather clad group like in a normal parade, but that's now what the average person sees, and perception is reality. If the point of the parade is to say "Hey look at all the freaky things we do, and the majority of gay folks are into weird leather fetishes, and walking around with giant rubber fists" then that's cool have a good time.
Though in the more likely event that the parade, should convey a message of "We're just like you except we're attracted to people with the same bits as us" then maybe a format change is in order.

Sorry if this is a bit of derailment, but I think that the message the parade portrays is pretty important in deciding whether or not it gets funding. That's why I brought it up.

[mykalberta]

Funding anything in Tornoto is a political event.

They needed to fund it or would have got roasted by the Central Canada media. Demoting the minister because of it appeases the right of centre element in the party. Also she didnt really get demoted, she just no longer gives out that type of sponsorship money.

Its too bad this Sask MP spoke out. He is ayoung and could have had a bright future with the party. Harper will now do what Harper does best, slowly and quietly demote him until he decides to quit politics because he broke party ranks.

[Pastiche]

Also she didnt really get demoted, she just no longer gives out that type of sponsorship money.

The responsibilities to give out money under the $140 million Tourist Fund were withdrawn and handed over to Clement. That's the definition of a demotion for Cabinet Ministers.

[starseed]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Allright, I'm not going to comment on the gay pride parade getting funding because I don't have all of the facts.

However, does anyone else think that gay pride parades actually do more harm than good as far as acceptance of being gay goes?
When I see any sort of coverage of a gay pride parade, all I notice are the groups of "Mr. Slave" wannabes wandering down the street half naked.

Why is it that a gay pride parade seems to be more like a weird fettish pride parade.
Isn't that exactly the stereotypes that the gay community would rather not have associated with them?

Maybe I'm way off base here, and maybe there are big gay marching bands that follow the leather clad group like in a normal parade, but that's now what the average person sees, and perception is reality. If the point of the parade is to say "Hey look at all the freaky things we do, and the majority of gay folks are into weird leather fetishes, and walking around with giant rubber fists" then that's cool have a good time.
Though in the more likely event that the parade, should convey a message of "We're just like you except we're attracted to people with the same bits as us" then maybe a format change is in order.

Sorry if this is a bit of derailment, but I think that the message the parade portrays is pretty important in deciding whether or not it gets funding. That's why I brought it up.

It is a celebration of not having to hide your inner colours. For some people it is about celebrating sexual diversity by dressing up in leather or dessing in drag, for some others it is about marching as just your average joe.

The media prefers to air the most outlandish parts of the parade, but one thing they always miss are the marchers like PFLAG (parents and friends of lesbians and gays) when they marched by my friend starting talking to one of the parents and they ended up in tears and hugged each other over the fence between the crowd and the marchers. The parade is many different things, and one it's best aspects is that it is a way of telling people that they dont have to listen to the external or internal voices telling them that they are social deviants whom God hates. Telling them that it is ok to be free and be who they are.

[peter12]

Not a fan of gay pride parades... what if someone wanted to have a white pride parade? It's just identity politics, pure and simple, with nothing substantial to contribute to the culture.

That said, I have no problem with public displays of homosexuality, as long as they are impressed with the same social norms as everyone else.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by starseed

It is a celebration of not having to hide your inner colours. For some people it is about celebrating sexual diversity by dressing up in leather or dessing in drag, for some others it is about marching as just your average joe.

The media prefers to air the most outlandish parts of the parade, but one thing they always miss are the marchers like PFLAG (parents and friends of lesbians and gays) when they marched by my friend starting talking to one of the parents and they ended up in tears and hugged each other over the fence between the crowd and the marchers. The parade is many different things, and one it's best aspects is that it is a way of telling people that they dont have to listen to the external or internal voices telling them that they are social deviants whom God hates. Telling them that it is ok to be free and be who they are.

See and that's what I meant. I was sure that there were average Joe gay groups that marched in these things, but that's not how the parades are portrayed, and that's now what average joe staright guy like me sees or remembers.

I've never been to one of these parades, so I have to go by the limited coverage I see or hear about, which is where my question comes from.

If it is really an event where people are marching to show solidarity and to make the point that they are just like everyone else then great. If it's an excuse to go running around half naked while juggling rubber fists then it's not something I think the government should be supporting, as if it were any event other than a gay pride parade with people dressing and acting like some of the people in the parade (and really they are the ones that get the most, if not only coverage), those people would get arrested.

I guess the crux of my point is that for a large portion of the straight population, Gay Pride Parades come across more as a Sexual Deviant Parade (gay or straight, I think most folks would agree whips and chains is on the deviant side). I'm certain that that is not the intent of the parade organizers, nor is it the message the gay community as a whole wants to send out, but due to some rather in your face elements of the parade, that is how it comes off to a lot of people.

Is the point of the parade to show that you're the same as straight people, or to show that you're different? Because if you're point is the former, then you should maybe address the fact that the parade is coming of as the latter.

[starseed]

Originally Posted by peter12

Not a fan of gay pride parades... what if someone wanted to have a white pride parade? It's just identity politics, pure and simple, with nothing substantial to contribute to the culture.

That said, I have no problem with public displays of homosexuality, as long as they are impressed with the same social norms as everyone else.

I think the difference is that gay people have been repressed for some time, and that many young gay people grow up in environments/cultures hostile to their sexual identity.

There are several countries on earth whose official policy is to execute gay people. India only decriminalized same-sex sexual intercourse just recently. Canada has only decriminalized it since Trudeau.

I would say that it is fine for there to be some sort of caucasian pride parade so long as its not associated with racist groups. But there really would be no point to it seeing as how its not something you are taught from birth as some grave sin against the universe.

[Pastiche]

Not a fan of gay pride parades... what if someone wanted to have a white pride parade?

Well one is a celebration of being an identity. The other is a celebration of being better than other identities. Pretty weak example.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by starseed

I think the difference is that gay people have been repressed for some time, and that many young gay people grow up in environments/cultures hostile to their sexual identity.

There are several countries on earth whose official policy is to execute gay people. India only decriminalized same-sex sexual intercourse just recently. Canada has only decriminalized it since Trudeau.

I would say that it is fine for there to be some sort of caucasian pride parade so long as its not associated with racist groups. But there really would be no point to it seeing as how its not something you are taught from birth as some grave sin against the universe.

I absolutely agree that the current radicalism and nihilism of the fringe gay culture is due to decades of oppression and social isolation. They absolutely have my sympathy. That said, I personally do not agree with the current manifestation of gay culture.

[Pastiche]

Which other cultures do you not agree with?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

Which other cultures do you not agree with?

Maybe I should have put gay culture in quotations. I don't believe these parades represent a majority of homosexuals, nor will I insult them by insinuating that to be a homosexual means that you like to wear leather chaps. If some people want to do that, it's totally fine with me, I believe in freedom of expression and the freedom gather to gather with like-minded people in public.

Just because I have some reservations, based in reason not prejudice, does not mean that I am intolerant or as you insinuate, a racist.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by fotze

I thought there were white pride parades. They are met with opposition as well.

My point wasn't to compare gay parades with racist demonstrations, just to point out both are demonstrations of identity-based politics, not cultural harmony or community.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by fotze

What is with these giant rubber fists you keep talking about? Sounds like someone is watching the footage a little to closely.

Well it's just a funny steryotypical image that I thought I'd use.

Come on though, you of all people calling someone out for a rubber fist reference?

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Yawn.

Why don't we just exterminate all the bigots? Its cheaper, quicker, and more fun than waiting for natural causes.

I'm not gay, but I seriously empathize with the gay community for having entirely inconsequential BS tossed around the media by a bunch of obsolete dinosaurs.

Grow up, gov't of Canada.

These kind of dinosaurs?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Allright, I'm not going to comment on the gay pride parade getting funding because I don't have all of the facts.

However, does anyone else think that gay pride parades actually do more harm than good as far as acceptance of being gay goes?
When I see any sort of coverage of a gay pride parade, all I notice are the groups of "Mr. Slave" wannabes wandering down the street half naked.

Why is it that a gay pride parade seems to be more like a weird fettish pride parade.
Isn't that exactly the stereotypes that the gay community would rather not have associated with them?

Maybe I'm way off base here, and maybe there are big gay marching bands that follow the leather clad group like in a normal parade, but that's now what the average person sees, and perception is reality. If the point of the parade is to say "Hey look at all the freaky things we do, and the majority of gay folks are into weird leather fetishes, and walking around with giant rubber fists" then that's cool have a good time.
Though in the more likely event that the parade, should convey a message of "We're just like you except we're attracted to people with the same bits as us" then maybe a format change is in order.

Sorry if this is a bit of derailment, but I think that the message the parade portrays is pretty important in deciding whether or not it gets funding. That's why I brought it up.

It is a big freak show... and thats why so many people go to watch it. Its kind of like a 21st Century circus parade.... without the animals.