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Toronto Police Union Wants Pride Funding Pulled After Floats Banned

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C

CazTGG

Member
Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...g-pulled-after-floats-banned/article34748932/

In an open letter released by the union Wednesday, a committee representing LGBTQ officers in the force said it would be unacceptable for the city to give the roughly $260,000 grant to an event that excludes certain municipal employees.

The committee said officers would feel completely devalued and unsupported by the city if the funding continued.

The plea comes weeks after a similar call from a Toronto city councillor, who said the grant should be voted down until the city's Pride parade returns to its ”core principals of equity and inclusivity."

In January, Pride Toronto adopted a list of demands issued by the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter, including banning police floats from the parade.

Members of the anti-racism group held a sit-in part way through the parade last July, stopping it from moving forward for about a half hour, until Pride organizers signed the list of demands.

Black Lives Matter said it opposed police presence in the parade because it could discourage marginalized communities from participating.

About a month after Pride Toronto's ruling, Toronto's police chief announced the force would not be participating in the annual event this year, citing divisions within the LGBTQ community as a key motivator.
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Quote Ice Cube if old.

EDIT: Since this seems to be a recurring misunderstanding, let's make this clear: Police officers themselves are not barred from attending Pride, they are simply not being given a float like they were in previous years. Please look up some history on Pride before posting.
 
V

valkillmore

Member
I'm rather shocked that this situation has deteriorated into what it is now. This should have been resolved amicably months ago. I still hold out hope that it will be.
 
H

hoos30

Member
I don't understand this BLM unit's position here. Seems like it is designed to create a backlash. Not well thought out.
 
D

Divvy

Canadians burned my passport
I kind of feel like everyone involved with this has handled themselves about as poorly as possible.
 
N

Negator

Member
This situation is fucked six ways from Sunday. The committee doesn't want LGBT people, the LGBT police don't want exclusion, the BLM don't want police, and now the LGBT police don't want the event to be funded? Is this all correct? Did I miss anything?

How did it devolve into this carnival of fuckery?
 
E

Enzom21

Member
Nevasleep said:
I don't agree with BLM's attitude, it should be LGBTQ folks helping each other, including LGBTQ Police Officers.
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I would imagine there are black people in the LGBTQ and they probably don't want an organization that treats them badly to be celebrate at a pride parade.

Nothing is stopping cops from participating, they just can't be in uniform and they don't get a float.
 
T

the1npc

Member
BLM toronto is kinda fucked. Videos of one of the co founders calling a guy a "coon" and she says melanin is a sign of advanced intelligence. Other one has stolen shit loads from U of T.

Way different from the states but at the same time they still make legitimate points. Hard issue
 
K

kami_sama

Member
Man, even if the parade organizers are idiots for banning the police floats, the police are even worse with this shit.

the1npc said:
BLM toronto is kinda fucked. Videos of one of the co founders calling a guy a "coon" and she says melanin is a sign of advanced intelligence. Other one has stolen shit loads from U of T.

Way different from the states but at the same time they still make legitimate points. Hard issue
Click to expand...

WTF, and why isn't nobody giving them shit for this?
 
C

capitalCORN

Member
Nevasleep said:
I don't agree with BLM's attitude, it should be LGBTQ folks helping each other, including LGBTQ Police Officers.
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This may (will?) be an unpopular opinion, not agreeing with the police behaviour at all (It's utterly petty and disgusting), but I'll got through with it. BLM has a beef with both groups, I don't begrudge them for it. Speaking as a non-cis minority who's had unreasonable dealings with police, I can at least understand their concerns, though maybe at not the same extent. Still, I consider their conduct toxic in the end, there's little reason for an ultimatum. No one's giving out medals here. A float is a technicality in the end. It's just a feel good week long event, and as insensitive as it sounds, I'd rather the issues be taken to a separate event of their creation, where real work can be done. I don't mean closed doors. BLM has the option of creating roundtables, have awareness events, etc. BLM is standing up for marginalized LGBTQ, but they do not represent of the LGBTQ community in totality. And this is, in the end, an LGBTQ event.
 
D

devilhawk

Member
Enzom21 said:
I would imagine there are black people in the LGBTQ and they probably don't want an organization that treats them badly to be celebrate at a pride parade.

Nothing is stopping cops from participating, they just can't be in uniform and they don't get a float.
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Which is fine. Just don't expect a $260,000 check from the public.
 
N

NYCmetsfan

Banned
the police department made the decision. they're no reason officers that want to attend can't.

So I don't see how the police union has any point here.

Nobody is being discriminated against. The police themselves withdrew
About a month after Pride Toronto's ruling, Toronto's police chief announced the force would not be participating in the annual event this year, citing divisions within the LGBTQ community as a key motivator.
Click to expand...
 
C

Chorazin

Member
CazTGG said:
...Which is who their demands seeked to aid. Also, officers can still attend Pride, they're just not getting a float.
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Are LGBTQ Police officers less LGBTQ because they also wear a blue uniform and want to enforce laws, stop criminals, and help people? Why can't they have a float for their pride as well?
 
J

Josh7289

Member
I agree with the Toronto police union here. If they're barred from participating in the parade (without having to hide their profession) and are barred from having a float, then there's no reason for the government, which runs the police force, to give any money to the parade.
 
S

SummitAve

Banned
NYCmetsfan said:
the police department made the decision. they're no reason officers that want to attend can't.

So I don't see how the police union has any point here.

Nobody is being discriminated against. The police themselves withdrew
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I would think LGBTQ public employees would want their employer to allow, support, and celebrate their employees for who they are, as an institution, as it has been done for years prior.
 
C

CazTGG

Member
SuperBanana said:
And why shouldn't they be allowed a float? It's a stupid demand.
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Chorazin said:
Are LGBTQ Police officers less LGBTQ because they also wear a blue uniform and want to enforce laws, stop criminals, and help people? Why can't they have a float for their pride as well?
Click to expand...

That uniform is associated with the systemic oppression and discrimination of, among other groups, Canada's LGTBQ+ community. It's literally a part of Pride's origin. This is why you should do basic research before you post.

Seesaw15 said:
#bluepridesmatter
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Nice.
 
A

ahoyhoy

Unconfirmed Member
Don't support the move by BLM here, but won't weep for the cops either.

Eh. Just hope other groups don't try to follow precedent and block the parade again this year.
 
C

CyclopsRock

Member
Enzom21 said:
Is celebration of cops are requirement for that $260,000?
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I don't think it's unreasonable to expect taxpayer funded events to be as inclusive as possible.

It's hard to see who really benefits here from BLMs actions, unless there's some sort of gay police Mafia with its hands on the levers at Police HQ in Toronto. I imagine anyone with the power to address their concerns will hear about this whole fiasco and shrug.
 
S

Sai-kun

Banned
Man, idgaf about cops. Find another float to march with if you really want it that much. That 'I'm taking my ball and going home' shit is so juvenile. gfy
 
T

Takuan

Member
CazTGG said:
That uniform is associated with the systemic oppression and discrimination of, among other groups, Canada's LGTBQ+ community. It's literally a part of Pride's origin. This is why you should do basic research before you post.
Click to expand...

I don't know that it's true that the homosexual community associates cops with systemic oppression and discrimination. Times and attitudes have changed, and the police force with it. The parade should be a celebration of that evolution.
 
M

metalslimer

Member
Cops are the most fragile people I swear. And people are still acting like BLM has nothing to do with pride as of there are no black lgbt people.

This all being said I wasn't against officers marching in their uniforms but them pulling this shit shows why people don't want their symbolism to begin with
 
Trojita

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
In an open letter released by the union Wednesday, a committee representing LGBTQ officers in the force said it would be unacceptable for the city to give the roughly $260,000 grant to an event that excludes certain municipal employees.
Click to expand...

And that's how you warp the truth. As stated by other posters, they are still allowed to attend the parade if they wanted.

BLM TO*** has been awful and so has the Toronto Police Department. Pride Toronto is being pulled every which way.

***BLM is a decentralized movement where local chapters can be created with the name of BLM. The actions of one BLM group does not have any bearing on another.
 
T

TemplaerDude

Member
The Police don't need to have a presence to contribute to a worthy cause, they honestly need to stop whining.

With that said, the person in charge of BLM Toronto is a noted lunatic so I have a hard time supporting their position on this matter as well.
 
C

Christhor

Member
They probably only had the funding in the budget because it promoted a positive side of the police. It's more than likely not the actual LGBT members who pushed for this, but the higher ups who couldn't justify the cost anymore.
 
T

Testicular Sound Express

Member
Nevasleep said:
I don't agree with BLM's attitude, it should be LGBTQ folks helping each other, including LGBTQ Police Officers.
Click to expand...

No it shouldn't. Gay cops are free to march out of uniform. This isn't about the individual, its about the entire complex. Why the fuck would I want to cheer for an organization that targets brown people who look like me.
 
E

Enzom21

Member
CyclopsRock said:
I don't think it's unreasonable to expect taxpayer funded events to be as inclusive as possible.

It's hard to see who really benefits here from BLMs actions, unless there's some sort of gay police Mafia with its hands on the levers at Police HQ in Toronto. I imagine anyone with the power to address their concerns will hear about this whole fiasco and shrug.
Click to expand...

Are there no black people in LGBTQ community?
That inclusion shouldn't involve celebrating a organization that systemically oppresses members of the LGBTQ community.
Cops can still participate, they just don't get a float.
 
E

excelsiorlef

Member
Once again this is not BLM stealing spotlight from LGBTQ folk like so many will imply... because a lot of BLM folk, and hold your surprise here please, are in fact queer folk...

It is amazing that in a world where the police, whom still target black folk, yes even in Toronto, faced with a request to not march in uniform turns around and demand the total defunding of Pride because of it... that they are still seen as the begrieved party....


This shows how little they actually care about LGBT folk... No Police float- no funding? That's what they're going with. The needs of their Police force to have cheap We Care PR supersedes the needs of the black queer folk who are their targets.


Police are not a minority group... They are not being oppressed.

It is impressive how quickly folks will side with the empowered systemic institutions...
 
J

Jakten

Member
This just proves the Police don't care about the LGBTQ or Black community and just liked the praise that came with being in the parade.
 
dream

dream

Member
Ironically, Sandy Hudson, one of the more vocal members of BLM-TO, could cover the cost of that float with the $277,000 she embezzled from the UofT.
 
C

collige

Banned
Every time I read about this drama I just shake my head, but as usual the police union manages to come out looking like the worse party by completely showing their ass.
 
T

Takuan

Member
dream said:
Ironically, Sandy Hudson, one of the more vocal members of BLM-TO, could cover the cost of that float with the $277,000 she embezzled from the UofT.
Click to expand...

kttcoliohhh
 
S

ShironRedshift

Member
Takuan said:
I don't know that it's true that the homosexual community associates cops with systemic oppression and discrimination. Times and attitudes have changed, and the police force with it. The parade should be a celebration of that evolution.
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So the concerns of queer people of color are totally irrelevant to Pride. Only how they treat queer white people matter, and as long as all's good there, that should be celebrated. Also, apparently queer people of color aren't part of the homosexual community. Gotcha. Good to know.

If that's what Pride is becoming (which I know it sadly it and is probably not stoppable at this point), then even as someone who's white and bisexual I want nothing to do with it if it's in any way making any of my black brothers and sister feel uncomfortable or forgotten about.

And before you say it, I know none of that is in any way what you mean. I'm confident you didn't mean for any of that to come of that that way. But it's not just intent that matters when those words and choices have the same result regardless and have the same impact. Regardless of how good the intention, the result remains the same, so we have to be careful about that. If you're thinking along the lines you are in your post, that shows that your heart may be in the right place but you're missing the mark a bit and capable of being better. So be better.

And in any case, cops are allowed to participate--they just can't do so in uniform. If they nonetheless care more about wearing their uniform of all things than making sure that queer people of color actually feel comfortable being there at Pride with them, then that just tells me everything I need to know about their priorities and how they apparently want to participate in Pride while at the same time missing the entire point of it, trying to make it more about them than the people it's supposed to be celebrating.
 
C

CazTGG

Member
Takuan said:
I don't know that it's true that the homosexual community associates cops with systemic oppression and discrimination. Times and attitudes have changed, and the police force with it. The parade should be a celebration of that evolution.
Click to expand...

I would beg to differ (Different police force but still, the problem continues to be systemic discrimination of minorities, be they black, gay, trans or all of the above)
 
C

CyclopsRock

Member
Enzom21 said:
Are there no black people in LGBTQ community?
That inclusion shouldn't involve celebrating a organization that systemically oppresses members of the LGBTQ community.
Cops can still participate, they just don't get a float.
Click to expand...

And if they don't get funding they can still all participate, just no one gets a float. I daresay there are plenty of black people in the LGBTQ community, and they're more than capable of associating as much or as little with the police float as they like.
 
S

Stallion Dan

Member
excelsiorlef said:
Once again this is not BLM stealing spotlight from LGBTQ folk like so many will imply... because a lot of BLM folk, and hold your surprise here please, are in fact queer folk...

It is amazing that in a world where the police, whom still target black folk, yes even in Toronto, faced with a request to not march in uniform turns around and demand the total defunding of Pride because of it... that they are still seen as the begrieved party....


This shows how little they actually care about LGBT folk... No Police float- no funding? That's what they're going with. The needs of their Police force to have cheap We Care PR supersedes the needs of the black queer folk who are their targets.


Police are not a minority group... They are not being oppressed.

It is impressive how quickly folks will side with the empowered systemic institutions...
Click to expand...

But it the lgbt police who want this. So you're saying they are oppressing themselves.
 
E

excelsiorlef

Member
Really if this is successful (ie if Pride capitulates to the Police Union) it'll just be the next step in the growing irrelevancy of Pride... it used to be about fighting the inherent bigotry in the system... it used to be about refusing to be silenced and rendered invisible, but now it's almost a different type of invisibility... we're losing the inherent political nature of what it mean to be queer in society... we are buying into a system that will tolerate us in return for us not rocking the boat anymore.

Pride used to be about rebellion now it's about putting on a family friendly show for non queer folk to marvel and gawk at.

Pride TO cannot capitulate, it must stand for some of their most vulnerable members, failure to do so renders Pride a toothless PR arm of the government.

Stallion Dan said:
But it the lgbt police who want this. So you're saying they are oppressing themselves.
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You are not oppressed for being a cop....

Queer cops have the exact same capability to oppress and discriminate against black folk, and black queer folk, as non queer cops.

They are welcome to march, just not in the uniform...

I repeat Police are not an oppressed minority.... They are not an identity that needs to be protected...

If queer cops want to put their uniform above the LGBTQ community, If they aren't willing to stand with the queer black folk in the LGBTQ community... That's their decision.
 
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