Pride Toronto issued a public statement attempting to clarify its stand on Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, which the National Post had reported was being banned from marching in the parade this year after Pride bowed to pressure from certain Jewish lobby groups. The statement says:
…participants in the various events will be required to stringently adhere to the criteria stated on the application forms to which they are contractually bound by signature. These criteria include: the submission of a Parade entry that carries a message supportive of the LGBTTIQQ2S community, provision of a correct description of the entry in advance, assumption of responsibility for all participants in the contingent, and acceptance of the organization’s right to reject and remove entries that violate Canada’s hate crime laws or contravenes the organization’s anti-discrimination policy, including those promoting racism, sexism and homophobia, amongst others.
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Oddly, the statement does not actually say whether or not QAIA is being banned, or if Pride has determined them to be in violation, so it doesn’t really clarify anything. But the National Post has stepped in once again clarifying that Pride will not ban political posters, and that QAIA will be not be banned from the parade as long as they are officially registered. But will QAIA be allowed to be registered?
In unsurprising news, studies show that the sexual health needs of teenagers in Toronto are not being met. But on the positive side, a condom awareness campaign designed to reach South Asian Torontonians appears to be working out very well, even if a commenter on the Star’s web site feels the need to ask “If condoms were sold in small, medium, large and ex large, which size would sell out the fastest?” Dude, you can get condoms in all sizes at specialty shops all over the city. Clearly, there’s still progress to be made in sexual health awareness.
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