Ford reportedly walked out during the vote, returning only after voting was finished. Toronto City Council voted 32 to 2 on June 13 to fund the 10-day Pride event to the tune of $140,000, about a $16,000 increase from last year. Will he show up for the vote when it’s time to show support to this community? Until he does, he should be shunned.”
But his political persona has been one in which he has fought against the gay and lesbian community. “So I think he is just trying to rescue his public persona. “I think that he has been damaged by these recent scandals,” said Councillor Adam Vaughan to Xtra, referring to unproven drug allegations that have plagued the mayor after a video surfaced of him allegedly smoking crack. Homosexual supporters speculate that Ford attended the flag raising in view of winning support for next year’s election. “There's no gain in this for him, only loss,” he said. “The gay lobby will continue to despise him because of his stated belief in the true definition of marriage, meanwhile the so-cons and immigrant communities who rewarded him with their votes in 2010 will be deflated.” asked the Mayor’s office if Ford’s belief in real marriage has changed, but did not hear back by press time.įonseca said he wished that Ford would have “stuck by his principles”.Ĭlick “like” if you support TRADITIONAL marriage. I look out for taxpayers’ money,” he said. I always have … I’m not worried about what people do in their private life. Life and family leaders credited Ford’s whopping victory to his, at the time, unapologetic stance for traditional family values.įord dodged media attempts at that time to paint him as ‘anti-gay’ by stating his beliefs clearly: “I support traditional marriage. Toronto’s 2010 mayoral race saw Ford running what mainstream media thought was a neck-in-neck race against the openly gay George Smitherman. While the event is billed “family-friendly,” public nudity, sex acts and sado-masochistic get-up are common. Toronto’s Pride Week, extending from June 21 to June 30, climaxes in the Pride parade. “It's terribly disappointing to see the Mayor cave in to the gay lobby, especially after he so unapologetically defended his belief in the true definition of marriage during the election campaign,” said Jack Fonseca, Project Manager for Campaign Life Coalition.įord read the city’s official proclamation prior to the flag raising ceremony, saying: “Pride Week is an opportunity to celebrate the harmony in which we co-exist and raise awareness about the barriers some individuals still face in the areas of health care, public safety, employment and the recognition of family relationships.” TORONTO, Ontario, J( ) – Toronto’s Mayor Rob Ford attended his first Pride flag raising over city hall yesterday during the city’s annual Pride Week - despite being elected in his 2010 campaign as a supporter of “traditional marriage”.