Gay Life in Canadian Cities - Page 15

travis3000 · #**281** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 2:41 PM**

I'm appalled Toronto isn't even participating or talking about this. Like come on. Toronto should be #1 in Canada leading the gay rights movement and pushing for equality around the world. But nope, city haul is way too dysfunctional to even think about it. Oh and then we have the homophobic mayor!

kwoldtimer · #**282** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis3000

I'm appalled Toronto isn't even participating or talking about this. Like come on. Toronto should be #1 in Canada leading the gay rights movement and pushing for equality around the world. But nope, city haul is way too dysfunctional to even think about it. Oh and then we have the homophobic mayor!

There was a demonstration in front of the Russian Consulate yesterday and I understand that the organizers are initiating a letter-writing campaign to the Russian Ambassador. So the focus at the moment seems to be on concrete, rather than symbolic, actions (not that symbolic actions are not important).

Acajack · #**283** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 3:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

There was a demonstration in front of the Russian Consulate yesterday and I understand that the organizers are initiating a letter-writing campaign to the Russian Ambassador. So the focus at the moment seems to be on concrete, rather than symbolic, actions (not that symbolic actions are not important).

Was the demonstration organized by the City of Toronto itself?

kwoldtimer · #**284** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Was the demonstration organized by the City of Toronto itself?

No, it was Toronto Pride and World Pride organizers, I believe.

bikegypsy · #**285** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 3:40 PM**

Vancouver has also been confirmed to make half of the larger 6 cities included. I wish all our city councils will follow through and show support. Ford's antics are not surprising.

Good on Josh Eddy of Outport magazine for giving the idea to St John's city council. https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsFirstLgbtMagazine

Acajack · #**286** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 3:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

No, it was Toronto Pride and World Pride organizers, I believe.

I don't feel super strongly about the issue, but I like others find it noteworthy that the City of Toronto is silent on the issue, and that the City of Calgary has I believe actually come out and said that it won't be doing anything.

lio45 · #**287** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Vancouver has also been confirmed to make half of the larger 6 cities included.

So, that leaves out only Toronto... and the two oh-so-openminded Alberta cities...

How weird.

But I have to say I'm not surprised by Vancouver getting on board...

SignalHillHiker · #**288** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:31 PM**

The Province announced it will keep the flag up for the duration of the Olympics in response to public support. All our municipalities were already doing that. Yay!

SignalHillHiker · #**289** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:38 PM**

I got this response from Mayor Nenshi`s team:

Quote:

Hi Ryan. It might be a bit late in the process to get a special flag raised... however, there is a way to make that happen in the future:

http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks...spx#flagraised

In the meantime, Mayor Nenshi did share his thoughts on this issue at an event last night:

http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks...spx#flagraised

- Daorcey from Mayor Nenshi's team

kwoldtimer · #**290** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

So, that leaves out only Toronto... and the two oh-so-openminded Alberta cities...

How weird.

But I have to say I'm not surprised by Vancouver getting on board...

Re Toronto, I wonder if it isn't hamstrung by its current mayoral arrangement? IE can anyone other than Mayor Ford (who likely wouldn't) order the rainbow flag to be raised? Could Deputy Mayor Kelly do it, or would it require a motion at City Council (when do they sit?)?

SignalHillHiker · #**291** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:41 PM**

A picture from the City of Corner Brook`s flag raising today:

Took lots at the St. John's one but I have to get back to work! Aaahhh...

Acajack · #**292** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I got this response from Mayor Nenshi`s team:

And your view on this response is...?

lio45 · #**293** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Re Toronto, I wonder if it isn't hamstrung by its current mayoral arrangement? IE can anyone other than Mayor Ford (who likely wouldn't) order the rainbow flag to be raised? Could Deputy Mayor Kelly do it, or would it require a motion at City Council (when do they sit?)?

Oh, yes, it might not have been clear in my post but in my mind I'm pretty much giving Toronto a pass... especially as Ottawa's doing it.

Apples to apples would be that one of Calgary/Edmonton is getting on board with us while the one which isn't happens to have, currently, a dysfunctional city council and a dumbass drunkard mayor.

If that were the case I would also give them a pass...

niwell · #**294** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Re Toronto, I wonder if it isn't hamstrung by its current mayoral arrangement? IE can anyone other than Mayor Ford (who likely wouldn't) order the rainbow flag to be raised? Could Deputy Mayor Kelly do it, or would it require a motion at City Council (when do they sit?)?

I haven't heard too much about it locally, but I imagine this is the reason. Toronto raises a flag for Pride week so it's not as if they have an issue with doing so.

SignalHillHiker · #**295** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:55 PM**

A few pics...

Our place:

A few of the families who came down brought their kiddies:

Later, that little girl was wearing the flag around her shoulders screaming, "Rescue me!", playing with her brother. We were all like, "Don't film that, please..."

The flag raising...

Our Mayor is a class act. Tried to sneak away without even speaking to the media, preferring to let jeddy1989 and one of our writers do the talking. But they chased him down. He was delightful and very proud to have set this trend in motion.

SignalHillHiker · #**296** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

And your view on this response is...?

I think it's a respectable, balanced response. Excellent, public quote on the issue from Nenshi.

Former Olympic City, though, it would have been nice. We got Vancouver and Montreal.

kwoldtimer · #**297** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 4:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by niwell

I haven't heard too much about it locally, but I imagine this is the reason. Toronto raises a flag for Pride week so it's not as if they have an issue with doing so.

So I did a quick research and it appears that the Toronto Chief of Protocol has the authority to raise flags on the "courtesy flagpole". The policy seems to require that a request be made in writing two weeks in advance, however.

SignalHillHiker · #**298** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 5:01 PM**

Steele Communications, which operates the electronic billboards throughout downtown St. John's, is adding a rainbow flag to their rotation of advertisements.

And the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (our police force) is going to be adding a rainbow flag to their website.

I love this place!

SignalHillHiker · #**299** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 5:06 PM**

Aww, here it is. Thanks, RNC!

Aww, they put it on FB too!

Acajack · #**300** Posted **Feb 7, 2014, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I think it's a respectable, balanced response. Excellent, public quote on the issue from Nenshi.

Former Olympic City, though, it would have been nice. We got Vancouver and Montreal.

You're a lot nicer that I would be if I was a gay person who had suffered discrimination (not saying you have, I have no idea) at some point and felt strongly about the issue.

I would assume that all of the municipalities that have agreed to do this have policies or protocols on flags and that they decided to make an exception in this particular case.