Doofus of the Day: Anti-Israel Activists to March in Toronto Pride Parade
TORONTO (JTA) — A Toronto committee voted that the participation of an anti-Israel group in the city’s annual Gay Pride parade does not violate anti-discrimination rules.
After months of debate, Toronto’s executive committee voted unanimously May 24 to back a report by the city manager, which ruled that the term “Israeli apartheid” does not violate Toronto’s anti-discrimination policies, and that public funding for the parade should not be contingent on the participation of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid.
The controversy has been brewing since last summer, when some City Council members joined Jewish officials to question whether the participation of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid in the annual Pride festival should warrant the revocation of city funding for the event.
Last year, Pride received a $123,807 city grant and $245,000 worth of services, such as litter cleanup and police services. Municipal support amounts to about one quarter of the festival’s budget.
In April, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid promised not to participate in this year’s festivities. But some City Council members called that pledge insufficient.
