Pride Toronto’s members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping police out of this year’s and future parades, and to endorse all of Black Lives Matter Toronto’s demands.
The agenda for Pride’s annual general meeting (AGM) was initially set to focus on recapping last year’s highlights in its annual report and on a Q&A with prospective new board members. But members preferred to focus on Black Lives Matter and community concerns about accessibility, corporate sponsorship and anti-black racism.
Here’s Xtra’s recap of the AGM, which took place on Jan 17, 2017.
How did Pride Toronto agree to all of BLMTO’s demands?
Members Gwen Bartleman and Kami Chisholm asked Pride Toronto to officially endorse all of Black Lives Matter’s demands, “and commit to [it] in terms of practice, policy and funding priorities.”
But the meeting’s chair said the agenda could not be amended. Any additions must have been added 60 days prior to the meeting, said the chair, an outside facilitator brought in by Pride to run the AGM.
But several community members said they didn’t receive notice 60 days prior to the meeting.
After Bartleman successfully challenged the chair’s ruling, a large majority of attendees voted to add Black Lives Matter to the agenda.
Gary Kinsman, a long-time activist and a founding member of the Toronto Lesbian and Gay Pride Day Committee, said he was “strongly in favour of Black Lives Matter Toronto’s demands.”
Pride Toronto had its first town hall on Aug 30, 2016 to discuss issues arising from last year’s Pride.
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What is Pride doing about accessibility and ASL interpreters?
Board members were grilled on the lack of accessibility at Pride, in particular when it comes to ASL. Several community members said that the board needs to have a relationship with the deaf community, and to hire more interpreters from diverse backgrounds.
Pride co-chair Aaron GlynWilliams said that finding interpreters for events is an operational decision made by Pride Toronto staff, not the board. “There’s a strong desire for Pride Toronto to be as diverse as possible in our hiring,” he said, adding that interpreters are chosen depending on who is available at the time.
How are Pride Toronto’s finances?
Last year, Pride Toronto had 33 sponsors, all of which are returning for Pride 2017. These sponsors include major cultural attractions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum and Ripley’s Aquarium. Pride made $2,269,180 in sponsorships, an increase from 2015. Pride’s total revenue for last year totalled $4,409,478, compared to $3,104,906 in 2015.
GlynWilliams said Pride 2016 brought in $600 million in economic spending to Toronto.
However, community members expressed concerns over corporate sponsorship and their attempts to pinkwash for profit.
“The banks are not our friends,” said speaker Kami Chisholm, telling the audience that some trans customers have had issues with TD Canada Trust, one of Pride’s long-time sponsors.
Who’s leaving the board?
Treasurer Chris Tremeer, co-chair Aaron GlynWilliams and Dana Suvagau are stepping down as board members.
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