Watch: Town hall on free speech at Toronto Pride

UPDATE, JUNE 8: Watch our recording of the town hall on free speech:

(Note: We had some trouble with our internet connection, so the first chunk is missing. Our apologies!)

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JUNE 7: Xtra will live broadcast tonight’s town hall meeting on free speech at Toronto Pride.

Watch the event here, starting at 7:15pm. Until then, you can check out some of our recent related video reports:

Some details of tonight’s event, via Facebook:

The Pride Coalition for Free Speech, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid
and Queer Ontario, invite you to participate in an open community
meeting about how you can support free speech at Pride.

The
event is hosted by Jane Farrow, broadcaster, Executive Director of
Jane’s Walks and a proud honoured dyke who gave back her 2010 honour to
instead support free speech.

The discussion will be
co-moderated by Farzana Doctor and Michael Went, members of the Pride
Coalition for Free Speech. The goal of the event is to discuss how, if
Pride Toronto does not rescind its decision to ban the words “Israeli
apartheid”, we can respond to Pride Toronto’s censorship now, leading up
to the Pride Parade, and beyond.

 

Participating organizations
will have a brief opportunity to explain their initiatives, future
plans, and how you can get involved with their efforts.

If you’re in Toronto, come down in person: the event takes place at The 519 Church Street Community Centre. It kicks off with a community fair at 6:30pm, and speeches start at 7:15.

Read more:

• Pride Toronto in hiding after spirited denunciation from queer leaders
• International grand marshals withdraw from Toronto Pride over censorship flap
• Klinck and Goodhandy step in as Pride grand marshals