Federal Conservatives pass on Vancouver Pride parade
Vancouver Centre Liberal MP Hedy Fry says the Conservatives have been absent from the Pride parade for 18 years.
While Vancouver Centre Liberal MP Hedy Fry is preparing for her 18th consecutive Vancouver Pride parade this year, the federal Conservative party has not signed up for a float.
“They have never had any MPs in Pride for the 18 years that I’ve been there, so why should they start now?” Fry told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “If that is an indicator of how they view community events, they have obviously decided that some communities are worth their attention and some communities are not.”
Vancouver Pride Society president Ken Coolen said he finds it “disappointing” that no Conservative MPs are signed up for the parade, which takes place at noon on August 2.
“Well, you know, it’s too bad that they don’t,” Coolen told the Straight by phone. “This is a large part of the voting population, and it’s a great opportunity to show their support for our community. So yeah, it’s disappointing that they don’t.”
Coolen confirmed that it’s “far too late” for the ruling party to do an about-face, as “the parade has been sold out for almost three weeks now”.
“The city puts restrictions on us for the number of entries, and every year it sells out even earlier,” he added. “This year we were sold out by July 3.”
Coolen said that aside from Fry, the provincial and federal Greens and a sizable contingent from the federal NDP will be on floats. This time, Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies won’t attend because she will be out of the country on business that day.
“It would be really smart of them [the Conservatives] to show up and to show that they understand what the Pride parade is about and reach out to people,” Davies said via cellphone. “If they don’t show up, they reinforce this very strong feeling in the community that the Conservative party is homophobic, that they don’t like anything to do with Pride, and so it’s actually in their political interests to show that they are willing to reach out and meet people in the LGBT [lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender] community.”
On July 20, the Straight left a message with Stephanie Rea, press secretary for Conservative heritage minister James Moore. Rea later confirmed that Moore—whose riding is Port Moody–Westwood–Port Coquitlam—had declined a request for an interview.
Burnaby-Douglas NDP MP Bill Siksay praised Conservative MP Diane Ablonczy, the small business and tourism minister. Ablonczy approved $400,000 in funding this month for Toronto’s pride parade. The money came from Canada’s $100-million marquee tourism events program. The file was transferred to Industry Minister Tony Clement days later.
“I don’t remember Conservative MPs ever being in attendance at Pride,” Siksay said. “But they might want to consider making Diane Ablonczy an honorary guest if she’s willing to come, given her willingness to stand up to the general tenor of the Conservative party and make sure that some Pride festivals got some of the tourism funding.”
Fry said she did not think that what Ablonczy did was “courageous”. Instead, Fry suggested the Calgary–Nose Hill MP was merely doing her job as minister and being “objective” when various groups strive to meet criteria for grants. However, Ablonczy being placed “in the doghouse” reflects on the party, Fry said.
“As an individual, she can come on my float,” Fry said. “We’ll find a costume for her. But she should come as Diane Ablonczy, not as a Conservative MP, because the party has shown that it is not representative of all Canadians.”
Coolen said the Vancouver Pride Society is not in a position to seek federal funding, as it does not meet certain criteria.
“The marquee grant, which the Toronto Pride applied for”¦we require a $500,000 cash operating budget, and we are just below that,” Coolen said. “So we didn’t qualify, and so we didn’t apply. We’re probably just over a hundred grand below.”¦There were two tiers. One, you had to have a minimum of something like $500,000, and the other was, like, $2 million. So they were really focusing on the really large festivals, and we’re getting there. We’re just not quite there yet.”
Ablonczy did not respond to a Straight interview request.
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Comments
What an incredibly stupid thing to say! No political party can be all things to all people, including Fry's Liberals. If it could, that party would receive 100% of the vote.
But then, is Fry the same moonbat of 'crosses burning on lawns' fame?
This stereotype of gay wealth usually focuses on urban gay men without children, but some urban gay couples do have dependents. That stereotype also leaves out lesbians, bisexuals and, most of all, transgendered people. And it ignores the reality that many LGBT people face challenges that impact livelihood. A sizeable number of homeless youth are LGBT, and many other people face problems with their families when they are young. Homophobia or transphobia impacts some peoples' careers and earnings; even for people in fairly tolerant environments there are still dilemmas about whether to be out at work. I have met a lot of people, especially lesbians and transgendered people, who are the working poor, or are at least working class. The West End or Commercial Drive certainly isn't Shaughnessy.
If they want a parade, sure . . . go for it. They have enough resources to fund themselves.
That is what Harpo and that 93% of his caucus who espouse strict Levitican dogma (not Christian) believe as God's word. You won't find them at Pride parades on penalty of being shunned by the theocon causus and having nomination papers rejected.
The sad part is the number of BC voters that support these and our home grown Campbellite fascists.
seth
Maybe Pride should build a float in Harper's honour called The Missing Link. Throw a cro-Magnon mannequin on it and they'll be as good as present.
The pride parade started as a civil rights march. Thankfully in Canada, its not as necessary anymore, even though violence against gay people continues unabated. But in most of the rest of the world, gay people are second- or third-class citizens who are taunted, tortured, beaten and murdered just for being gay. That's why the parade continues even though its roots have been forgotten by many.
So instead of allowing publicity seeking politicos like Hedy Fry to stir up a tempest in a teapot for a brief moment in the sun. Why not have a Pride celebration that includes no politicians, but instead puts the spotlight on those within the LGBT community who best represent that community. The community would be better off for it.
As for politicians in the parade, they are usually there because they understand and support the gay community, and the gay community needs them. Without them, people who do not "condone the gay lifestyle" would still be trampling on our rights and openly fomenting hatred and violence.
You then contradict yourself by saying: "The LGBT community are now for the most part accepted within Canadian society." This isn't true. We finally have equal rights, but, that does not mean gay people are accepted by most in Canada. There is a lot of religious-based hatred toward gay people all over the country. Which is why we'll keep on marching every year in every city.
You missed the entire gist of what I was saying. I realize that there are still people out there who do not approve of gays. Yes, a lot if that disapproval comes from religious groups, but for the most part they are now in the minority, and getting smaller all the time. The LGBT community is gaining acceptance everyday, but many still many want to play the victim and marginalize these groups further. What I am saying is accept the fact that not all people are going to approve of you being gay, in the same way you do not approve of their religious beliefs. Most Canadians will not allow any group of people to have their rights taken away from them, for whatever reason.
Finally, what I was saying about politicians, and specifically Hedy Fry, and Libby Davis is that they seem to have no problem hijacking the message of Pride so they can create a little political tempest in a teapot. Except that their message goes against the message of tolerance the these Pride events stand for. It is unfortunate that no Conservative MP would take the opportunity the be part of the Pride event to show their support. However let me ask you this, would they be welcomed with open arms for showing this support, or would they be berated, and ridiculed because of the party they represent. We both know the answer to that question.
What other segment of the population is paid to sit on their butts for actions that in some cases were of their own doing... not the 4% mentioned that's for sure...
Perhaps if they'd sat on their butt with their mouth shut to begin with, they'd not be on disability now. I'm disgusted with what this city has become in the 15 years that I was out of the country.
Hedy Fry and all the other talking heads have done nothing for you or I (I'm a Lesbian) so I'm not sure why any of you actually give a damn about them attending. As long as Bob's Truck Stop and Joe Joe's Funeral Parlor are willing to pay the dues, they can be in the parade... that's what it's all about these days isn't it..... selling a spot in the parade regardless of what they've done for the community. Half aren't even floats, idiots driving by in cars with magnetic signs does not a Pride parade make.
Pride.. just another excuse to cause havoc and disruption to the lives of people who live in the West End (most who have to pay their OWN rent with a job, not a disability cheque).
I think a bit of fact checking by the author and Hedy would be appropriate. But when has Hedy ever actually checked facts....
The Pride Parade is a celebration of colour and music for the whole community and I am glad it exists. I do not think that only the businesses who signed up for one of the 150 floats are pro-gay, in fact many of them see it for what it is - a marketing opportunity.
The Downtown Vancouver Conservatives Board is made up of a small group of VOLUNTEERS, some of whom are *gasp* gay. Maybe they were just busy with their lives or maybe they are still trying to work out how the best candidate we have ever been offered in downtown Vancouver - Lorne Mayencourt - did not get elected over a woman who has a screw loose and who has not actually achieved anything in years...except dance on a float....
The Conservative party did not have a float this year. This is absolute fact.
In relation to Hedy's comments, I tried reaching Conservatives for comment, but James Moore would not grant an interview. His assistant hinted he had copyrighting legislation which was taking up his time, and that an interview would not be easy. He never called, and she called to say he would not call regarding Pride.
As for Lorne Mayencourt, he could not be tracked down despite numerous attempts, including going through the downtown Davie Village BIA e.d. Lyn Helliar. (She said she had his cell phone number, but would not pass it on.) If Lorne was such a great federal candidate and somehow won last time, I wonder how he would have responded to media (based on this latest non-response) when the questions were a little tougher? Criticize Hedy Fry, but she did call back. If Moore and Mayencourt (and for that matter Diane Ablonczy) are not going to call to clarify where the Conervatives stand, nobody can lament their lack of real estate in the paper.
And you would do yourself a favour by clearing up who you are for our readers.