I'm no fan of Rob Ford based on some videos of genuinely asinine things he's said, but I agree with this op-ed that his choice not to participate in the parade is solely his own. His response was not one of dismissal for the parade, the occasion, or the community for which it speaks, but simply that he had somewhere else to go. For someone known to be outspokenly stupid on many issues, his response was uncharacteristically courteous. An invitation crosses the line when it becomes a demand.
@RevivalOfBuzzBuzz And CBC is left-wing propaganda, CNN north, fair game, right?
Lots of heterophobes hate Rob Ford, I guess cause his a very good father, husband, family man, football coach, business man and now a pretty damn good anti-liberal mayor, what's not to like about Rob Ford, right?
So you're a "heterophobe" if you're worried by the fact that someone is unable to say whether or not they're a homophobe or not?
Right. You're "damn good anti-liberal mayor" is the second-least popular mayor in our city's history. His determination to cut services and "privatize" everything will cut more jobs than taxes.
And, like most right-wing stooges, Mayor Ford is slavishly loyal to the police department. He had no problem whatsoever with G20. Authoritarian, much?
@RevivalOfBuzzBuzz I'm self-employed, therefore no friend at all with the PUBLIC sector, whoever politician is in favor of PRIVATE sector over the public one will always get my vote.
@Politicallyactive101 Why fund the CBC to the tune of $1 billion per year if they are going to be clearly biased and condescending?
Besides, the show is "commentary" not "journalism". He doesn't claim to be a journalist. I guess the real question is for you - why post a comment when you are clearly ignorant?
theres no pride in being gay, i dont think its right to teach our children its ok to be gay, we should teach our children to be traditional in their values not homo.
The Sun channel seems to just be Canada's Version of Fox News. I can almost swear that I'm seeing Bill O'Reilly sneering at the articles written by 'liberal' newspapers and news networks (CBC and Toronto Sun)...
oh shit... why do people even pay attention to SUNTV... FOX NEWS LIGHT... and I say light becuase the CRTC would not let them lie, these guys are not journalists and should be ignored..."somewhat" conservative? Bahahah rightwing Consrvatives are traditionally homophobic, and he dose not want to piss of his base...
I hate Ford. I am for gay rights and marriage...however, you can't say anything against a group or minority without getting bashed or criticized...what is it about any minority that gives them a privileged position as untouchable from one's opinion? You don't see straight people having a parade...a sexual preference is nothing to celebrate, hooray. If someone doesn't agree or like it, get over it. You don't have to be religious to disagree with the gay lifestyle.
@AiDwFl you should understasnd what Gay pride day is actually about, and why there are parades in the first place, its political, its becuase of the persecution of gay people, the first pride day was in New York after a riot broke out in the gay district because the police came in swinging as the were wont to do, and gay people got sick of being beaten up and murdered and even raped by cops... its to celebrate freedom from oppression, i would suggest you actually go to a pride parade one day
@phoboskitty I've been to pride, and I could not agree more. But please, every single minority on this planet has at one time, and still to this day, suffered. All oppressed. We have much bigger problems to be concerned with globally, and making a beef because an idiot mayor disagrees with a lifestyle choice is helping no one. He has an opinion, deal with it. Is he an idiot? YES. No minority is exempt from personal scrutiny, words don't hurt.
@AiDwFl ultimately it will not destroy the world if Ford dosn't come to Pride, but it certainly shows his stripes, and a good mayor would be at the front of the parade, he would be at the front of a parade that brings in over a million extra people into the city for the week from all over the world, Pride week brings in 100's of millions of dollars to this city, its the biggest event in toronto every year, you must question why he dose not come.
@donryall anal sex is not the primary sex act for homos, also, not the primary verhicke for AIDS transmission. Regarding your response to my comment, socialist or not, I'm certainly aware of covert brainwashing when I see it, not to mention the sheepish by product (you). Lumping people into categories such as 'conservative' 'liberal' 'socialist' is too simplistic, people are far more complex. Ps. My dick, at this moment in time, is not limp. Dick.
Don't like Sun News, have no problem with gays or whatever, but I really enjoyed this segment. Let the man do as he pleases as is his right. As for the people marching in these parades: get some dignity. It's embarrassing. Be proud and be loud, but put on some shorts. The equality long and rightly fought for exists, time to just live life like the rest of us.
@MrFanstar007 it just looks bad on him like politically and publicly since all the other mayors have gone even the ones who were uncomfortable with homosexuals rob not going makes him look like he doesnt care about all the people in his city.
Today (Tuesday, July 11, 2011) boywonder and Jersey Shore alumn, Councillor Giorgio Mamoliti, will put forth a proposal before City Council to cut all grants given by the City to the Pride Parade, thus cutting all ties with "those people", as Mayor Ford and his minions refer to the gay community (much worse in private). The City though had no problems collecting all the millions of dollars in revenue it took from the parade...hmm I smell something in the gravy...it's hypocrisy!
@abcun17 By that logic the city should give money to anything and everything that "generates revenue for the city". They should start paying the Blue Jays. And how about that restaurant down on Spadina - give them money too since they generate revenue for the city.
@craigdavidsmith wow, you really have no clue what I meant by my posting do you...well that is alright...we are not talking about the Blue Jays or a restaurant down on Spadina, we are talking about activities that are put on and run by the citizens of this city, who are now being told they don't count, are worthless and should be ignored as best as possible. And by the way yeah we did give the Jays money, look back and check to see how many subsidies they got for the building of the Sky Dome...
@abcun17 Actually, they aren't being told they don't count or are worthless. They just aren't being given tax dollars to parade around 9/10ths naked like sexually depraved lunatics.
@craigdavidsmith "Sexually depraved lunatics"...well that pretty much tells me all I need to know about you and people like you! Keep supporting Rob Ford, we'll see 4 years down the road how you will fell about him when you won't be able to fart without taking out your credit card in Toronto, and the city will be devoid of anything that made it a great before, carying for all our citizens, delivering important services, having a tolerant and accepting environment..have a good life sir! Bye!
@craigdavidsmith - Wow...so it's clear where you stand. You are right, NOT going to the Gay Pride parade DOES NOT make you a homophobe. Statements like that DO. Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian and gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people. It does NOT imply you have an IRRATIONAL fear of gays and lesbians. Don't try and come of as a well educated man, and pull of that kind of "misunderstanding" of what homophobia is.
@Donryall Not my definition. Websters : a term used to describe irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuals.Homophobic is the adjective form of this term used to describe the qualities of these characteristics while homophobe is the noun form given as a title to individuals with homophobic characteristics.The usage of the word homophobia in its modern form is controversial as it may be used pejoratively against those with differing debatable value positions.
The biggest issue with this video is the video it self. This network has taken on a fox news style of 'news' filled with rash generalization and acusitory statements, conservative propaganda. I'm gay, and don't attend the parade because it's NOT political enough, it's lost meaning and now is a corporate funded fuck fest that perpetuates negative stereotypes and bows to the $.
Don't cowtail to the homos and their disgusting pride week. I like this mayor. Just for this. He shouldn't have to be forced to go to something that might just happen to be against his religious or moral beliefs. He doesn't want to see sodom and gommorah live.
Let's cut the posturing here... does the gay community actually want him there? Will their celebration be ruined if he doesn't show up? Of course not. They're glad he isn't showing up because now they get to make political hay with it.
As well, the transmission rate for HIV is many times higher for anal sex compared to vaginal sex. This fact is available from any medical provider.
It's not that he's homophobic, it's that he's consistently remained silent or absent from anything gay/pride-related. And that is a FACT. He said in 2006 that if you "weren't gay or needle-using you wouldn't get AIDS probably". Is that a joke? I find it ridiculous that you justify this sort of behaviour - he's the first mayor to skip Pride. As for the cottage, I think its just another excuse, like his ones for the TTC.
@Viopule He is just speaking the truth about the statistics...
CDC statistics show that in 2008, 73% of persons living with a diagnosis of HIV infection were male adults or adolescents. Over half (63%) of adult and adolescent males living with an HIV diagnosis in 2008 became infected through male-to-male sexual contact, around 17% of those diagnosed were infected through injecting drug use and 12% through heterosexual contact.
@craigdavidsmith If you are going to mention stats, Toronto statistics from Toronto Public Health should be used, not the CDC. Toronto numbers of newly diagnosed cases runs about 48.7% for MSM, 7.5% for IDU, 4.1% for high risk heterosexual activity and 15.7% for high risk users.
What is important to note is the trend. In the Western world, the trend has been a decrease in infection through MSM transmission (88.4% in 1985 for Toronto) and a rise in transmission through heterosexual contact (0% in 1985 for Toronto). Outside of the context of Toronto, most HIV spread in the world is through heterosexual contact. Messages like what Rob Ford has said is misleading at best.
@craigdavidsmith the worse part is he supports property damage, taking windows and won't have them replaced because he wants to kill people with HIV/AIDS a lot faster and quicker by bringing down their immune system. As the media and everyone including the police keep that a secret...
@Viopule He's not doing anything to damage the Pride celebrations. What he does on his long-weekend is up to him, surely? It's just the opposite -- HE is the one being attacked because of HIS sexual orientation.
What is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from AIDS? Surely keeping strange men's penises out of your rectum would be right up there. It's a dangerous practice.
sorry brian... i dont' buy your byline bullshit.
videobrain101 2 months ago
I'm no fan of Rob Ford based on some videos of genuinely asinine things he's said, but I agree with this op-ed that his choice not to participate in the parade is solely his own. His response was not one of dismissal for the parade, the occasion, or the community for which it speaks, but simply that he had somewhere else to go. For someone known to be outspokenly stupid on many issues, his response was uncharacteristically courteous. An invitation crosses the line when it becomes a demand.
brianberneker 2 months ago
right-wing propaganda.
the sun is the canadian fox news.
if rob ford is not a homophobe, why wouldn't he comment about it when asked? if someone asks me if i'm a homophobe, i say "no."
he knows that in this enlightened, liberal city, appealing to tradition will make him look like a stupid, fundie douche.
RevivalOfBuzzBuzz 3 months ago
@RevivalOfBuzzBuzz And CBC is left-wing propaganda, CNN north, fair game, right?
Lots of heterophobes hate Rob Ford, I guess cause his a very good father, husband, family man, football coach, business man and now a pretty damn good anti-liberal mayor, what's not to like about Rob Ford, right?
401RoadWarrior 2 months ago
@401RoadWarrior
So you're a "heterophobe" if you're worried by the fact that someone is unable to say whether or not they're a homophobe or not?
Right. You're "damn good anti-liberal mayor" is the second-least popular mayor in our city's history. His determination to cut services and "privatize" everything will cut more jobs than taxes.
And, like most right-wing stooges, Mayor Ford is slavishly loyal to the police department. He had no problem whatsoever with G20. Authoritarian, much?
RevivalOfBuzzBuzz 2 months ago
@RevivalOfBuzzBuzz I'm self-employed, therefore no friend at all with the PUBLIC sector, whoever politician is in favor of PRIVATE sector over the public one will always get my vote.
401RoadWarrior 2 months ago
Fox news of the North? Hmmmm...
HeavnIsEarth 3 months ago
This reporting is clearly biased.
Why post a video,if the "journalist" is going to be clearly biased,and condescending?
Politicallyactive101 4 months ago
@Politicallyactive101 Why fund the CBC to the tune of $1 billion per year if they are going to be clearly biased and condescending?
Besides, the show is "commentary" not "journalism". He doesn't claim to be a journalist. I guess the real question is for you - why post a comment when you are clearly ignorant?
craigdavidsmith 4 months ago
theres no pride in being gay, i dont think its right to teach our children its ok to be gay, we should teach our children to be traditional in their values not homo.
teebrron 5 months ago
The Sun channel seems to just be Canada's Version of Fox News. I can almost swear that I'm seeing Bill O'Reilly sneering at the articles written by 'liberal' newspapers and news networks (CBC and Toronto Sun)...
loverofhighlanders20 5 months ago
oh shit... why do people even pay attention to SUNTV... FOX NEWS LIGHT... and I say light becuase the CRTC would not let them lie, these guys are not journalists and should be ignored..."somewhat" conservative? Bahahah rightwing Consrvatives are traditionally homophobic, and he dose not want to piss of his base...
phoboskitty 5 months ago
I hate Ford. I am for gay rights and marriage...however, you can't say anything against a group or minority without getting bashed or criticized...what is it about any minority that gives them a privileged position as untouchable from one's opinion? You don't see straight people having a parade...a sexual preference is nothing to celebrate, hooray. If someone doesn't agree or like it, get over it. You don't have to be religious to disagree with the gay lifestyle.
AiDwFl 6 months ago
@AiDwFl you should understasnd what Gay pride day is actually about, and why there are parades in the first place, its political, its becuase of the persecution of gay people, the first pride day was in New York after a riot broke out in the gay district because the police came in swinging as the were wont to do, and gay people got sick of being beaten up and murdered and even raped by cops... its to celebrate freedom from oppression, i would suggest you actually go to a pride parade one day
phoboskitty 5 months ago
@phoboskitty I've been to pride, and I could not agree more. But please, every single minority on this planet has at one time, and still to this day, suffered. All oppressed. We have much bigger problems to be concerned with globally, and making a beef because an idiot mayor disagrees with a lifestyle choice is helping no one. He has an opinion, deal with it. Is he an idiot? YES. No minority is exempt from personal scrutiny, words don't hurt.
AiDwFl 5 months ago
@AiDwFl ultimately it will not destroy the world if Ford dosn't come to Pride, but it certainly shows his stripes, and a good mayor would be at the front of the parade, he would be at the front of a parade that brings in over a million extra people into the city for the week from all over the world, Pride week brings in 100's of millions of dollars to this city, its the biggest event in toronto every year, you must question why he dose not come.
phoboskitty 5 months ago
Comment removed
Love4SK 6 months ago
What are they so proud of? Taking a cock up their asshole, that's quite an achievement. Go Gays Go
rxc128 6 months ago
@donryall anal sex is not the primary sex act for homos, also, not the primary verhicke for AIDS transmission. Regarding your response to my comment, socialist or not, I'm certainly aware of covert brainwashing when I see it, not to mention the sheepish by product (you). Lumping people into categories such as 'conservative' 'liberal' 'socialist' is too simplistic, people are far more complex. Ps. My dick, at this moment in time, is not limp. Dick.
Phill87p 6 months ago
Gays Suck. Go Ford
MrMuzammilk 7 months ago
Don't like Sun News, have no problem with gays or whatever, but I really enjoyed this segment. Let the man do as he pleases as is his right. As for the people marching in these parades: get some dignity. It's embarrassing. Be proud and be loud, but put on some shorts. The equality long and rightly fought for exists, time to just live life like the rest of us.
winterjet 7 months ago
Participating in gay pride parade is a choice. Rob ford did not choose to go. I don't see anything wrong about that.
MrFanstar007 7 months ago
@MrFanstar007 it just looks bad on him like politically and publicly since all the other mayors have gone even the ones who were uncomfortable with homosexuals rob not going makes him look like he doesnt care about all the people in his city.
TheLogace 7 months ago
Today (Tuesday, July 11, 2011) boywonder and Jersey Shore alumn, Councillor Giorgio Mamoliti, will put forth a proposal before City Council to cut all grants given by the City to the Pride Parade, thus cutting all ties with "those people", as Mayor Ford and his minions refer to the gay community (much worse in private). The City though had no problems collecting all the millions of dollars in revenue it took from the parade...hmm I smell something in the gravy...it's hypocrisy!
abcun17 7 months ago 4
@abcun17 By that logic the city should give money to anything and everything that "generates revenue for the city". They should start paying the Blue Jays. And how about that restaurant down on Spadina - give them money too since they generate revenue for the city.
craigdavidsmith 7 months ago
@craigdavidsmith wow, you really have no clue what I meant by my posting do you...well that is alright...we are not talking about the Blue Jays or a restaurant down on Spadina, we are talking about activities that are put on and run by the citizens of this city, who are now being told they don't count, are worthless and should be ignored as best as possible. And by the way yeah we did give the Jays money, look back and check to see how many subsidies they got for the building of the Sky Dome...
abcun17 7 months ago 3
@abcun17 Actually, they aren't being told they don't count or are worthless. They just aren't being given tax dollars to parade around 9/10ths naked like sexually depraved lunatics.
craigdavidsmith 7 months ago
@craigdavidsmith "Sexually depraved lunatics"...well that pretty much tells me all I need to know about you and people like you! Keep supporting Rob Ford, we'll see 4 years down the road how you will fell about him when you won't be able to fart without taking out your credit card in Toronto, and the city will be devoid of anything that made it a great before, carying for all our citizens, delivering important services, having a tolerant and accepting environment..have a good life sir! Bye!
abcun17 7 months ago
@craigdavidsmith - Wow...so it's clear where you stand. You are right, NOT going to the Gay Pride parade DOES NOT make you a homophobe. Statements like that DO. Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian and gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people. It does NOT imply you have an IRRATIONAL fear of gays and lesbians. Don't try and come of as a well educated man, and pull of that kind of "misunderstanding" of what homophobia is.
hyperball0505 7 months ago
Comment removed
Donryall 6 months ago
@Donryall Not my definition. Websters : a term used to describe irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuals.Homophobic is the adjective form of this term used to describe the qualities of these characteristics while homophobe is the noun form given as a title to individuals with homophobic characteristics.The usage of the word homophobia in its modern form is controversial as it may be used pejoratively against those with differing debatable value positions.
hyperball0505 6 months ago
I went to pride for the first time and I can see why Rob Ford didn't go. Old men walking around naked, Trannys walking around with no clothing on.
If one finds that gross and doesn't want to go would that make them a homophobe?
DjSaltyDog 7 months ago
Rob Ford kiss ass.
notdonebefore 7 months ago
The biggest issue with this video is the video it self. This network has taken on a fox news style of 'news' filled with rash generalization and acusitory statements, conservative propaganda. I'm gay, and don't attend the parade because it's NOT political enough, it's lost meaning and now is a corporate funded fuck fest that perpetuates negative stereotypes and bows to the $.
Phill87p 7 months ago
Comment removed
Donryall 6 months ago
he was off with his family i rather b with my family then try to impres some homos
777Chatha 7 months ago
Don't cowtail to the homos and their disgusting pride week. I like this mayor. Just for this. He shouldn't have to be forced to go to something that might just happen to be against his religious or moral beliefs. He doesn't want to see sodom and gommorah live.
Bisquack 8 months ago
I'm a homophobe and I'm proud to be one, arrest me.
MrEthekyaa 8 months ago
Rob Ford is a married guy, straight, with a family. Why the hell would he want to go to this goddamn parade?
The gay parade has just turned into a political stunt. Period.
Mr. Ford, stick to your guns and enjoy the cottage with family !!
cheeriosinabowl 8 months ago
So, what. He's practicing his rights.
Whatever happen to majority always wins and minorities always lose. Messed up democracy.
CrewRite 8 months ago
Let's cut the posturing here... does the gay community actually want him there? Will their celebration be ruined if he doesn't show up? Of course not. They're glad he isn't showing up because now they get to make political hay with it.
As well, the transmission rate for HIV is many times higher for anal sex compared to vaginal sex. This fact is available from any medical provider.
darkridertommy 8 months ago 2
@darkridertommy anal sex is a heterosexual act dipshit.
theblahs 7 months ago
Comment removed
Donryall 6 months ago
@Donryall You poor ignorant son of a bitch, not all ladies like getting cock in the as but a lot do. There's also a thing called condoms.
theblahs 6 months ago
No comments, no wonder.
It's not that he's homophobic, it's that he's consistently remained silent or absent from anything gay/pride-related. And that is a FACT. He said in 2006 that if you "weren't gay or needle-using you wouldn't get AIDS probably". Is that a joke? I find it ridiculous that you justify this sort of behaviour - he's the first mayor to skip Pride. As for the cottage, I think its just another excuse, like his ones for the TTC.
Viopule 8 months ago
@Viopule He is just speaking the truth about the statistics...
CDC statistics show that in 2008, 73% of persons living with a diagnosis of HIV infection were male adults or adolescents. Over half (63%) of adult and adolescent males living with an HIV diagnosis in 2008 became infected through male-to-male sexual contact, around 17% of those diagnosed were infected through injecting drug use and 12% through heterosexual contact.
craigdavidsmith 8 months ago
@craigdavidsmith If you are going to mention stats, Toronto statistics from Toronto Public Health should be used, not the CDC. Toronto numbers of newly diagnosed cases runs about 48.7% for MSM, 7.5% for IDU, 4.1% for high risk heterosexual activity and 15.7% for high risk users.
frozenfire8 7 months ago
What is important to note is the trend. In the Western world, the trend has been a decrease in infection through MSM transmission (88.4% in 1985 for Toronto) and a rise in transmission through heterosexual contact (0% in 1985 for Toronto). Outside of the context of Toronto, most HIV spread in the world is through heterosexual contact. Messages like what Rob Ford has said is misleading at best.
frozenfire8 7 months ago
quick edit, 15.7% is low risk heterosexual contact.
frozenfire8 7 months ago
@craigdavidsmith the worse part is he supports property damage, taking windows and won't have them replaced because he wants to kill people with HIV/AIDS a lot faster and quicker by bringing down their immune system. As the media and everyone including the police keep that a secret...
hellothere3fly 4 months ago
@Viopule He's not doing anything to damage the Pride celebrations. What he does on his long-weekend is up to him, surely? It's just the opposite -- HE is the one being attacked because of HIS sexual orientation.
What is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from AIDS? Surely keeping strange men's penises out of your rectum would be right up there. It's a dangerous practice.
BugsMr123 8 months ago