Mayor Rob Ford shows up to PFLAG event

VIDEO: Refuses to answer questions about alleged crack use

Mayor Rob Ford surprised many in the gay community by attending PFLAG Toronto’s annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) flag-raising event at city hall May 17.

Ford, who attended the IDAHOT event last year, had been holed up in his city hall office earlier in the day. Reporters had been hounding him for reaction to a video that has surfaced allegedly showing him smoking crack cocaine and calling Justin Trudeau a “fag.”

Ford has said that allegations made by those who have seen the video are “ridiculous.” He refused to answer reporters’ questions at the flag-raising.

“If we are looking for a true champion for diversity and social inclusion, he’s got to do more than just show up and read a script that staff prepare,” says Toronto Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam.

Here’s Xtra’s full coverage of Toronto IDAHOT 2013.

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