Rob Ford apologizes for actions of supporters at Ford Fest

Ford Nation and LGBT activists clash at semi-regular barbecue


A group of LGBT activists clashed with Rob Ford supporters at Ford Fest, Rob Ford’s semi-regular public barbecue, on July 25. Poe Liberado, one of the activists, said that the group decided to attend to hold Ford accountable for his alleged homophobia. “His buffoonery is dangerous,” Liberado said, pointing out that Ford was recently the sole vote against a report recommending that the City of Toronto investigate more supports for homeless LGBT youth.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has apologized for the actions of his supporters against LGBT protesters at Ford Fest on July 25.

A group of activists raised the ire of a small portion of the thousands who attended the barbecue. Several Ford supporters yelled for them to go home, and the situation escalated when the activists’ signs were taken from them and ripped apart to cheers from the crowd.

“I didn’t personally see it. I was in the tent, but it’s terrible that things like that happen. I apologize, and we have to move on,” he told CP24 at the Taste of Toronto festival on July 26.

His brother, Councillor Doug Ford, also apologized to Don Whittemore on CBC at Ford Fest Friday night. A Ford supporter allegedly assaulted Whittemore, who attended the event with a pink umbrella and a rainbow flag as a cape.

Mayor Ford has yet to respond to Xtra’s request for comment on this story.

HG Watson is Xtra's former Toronto news reporter.

Read More About:
Politics, Video, Power, News, Toronto, Canada

Keep Reading

On the left, Jason Collins on the cover of Sports Illustrated coming out as gay. On the right, a photo of Collins playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

Remembering Jason Collins, the gay NBA player who changed the game

The late trailblazer made history when he came out in 2013
Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit.

U.S. counterterrorism strategy takes aim at ‘pro-transgender’ groups

The Trump administration’s updated counterterrorism strategy targets “left-wing extremists” and groups who are “radically pro-transgender”
Renée Richards at a tennis match

The complicated legacy of Renée Richards

The former tennis player broke barriers for trans athletes in 1977. Then she changed her tune
Supporters of HIV AIDS research participate in the 2025 Toronto Pride Parade

Toronto man set to be the first Canadian cured of HIV

The patient received a stem cell transplant for his cancer that acted as a “double cure” because it contained a rare genetic mutation resistant to HIV
Advertisement