Vancouver Pride director resigns over B.C. Liberals parade ban

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      A director of the Vancouver Pride Society has resigned over the organization's decision to ban B.C. Liberals from marching in this year's Pride Parade.

      News 1130 reported late Monday afternoon that Tim Ell stepped down after the society barred the Liberals because the party would not sign a pledge, the Trans Equality Now pledge, that supported legislation for transgender equality.

      Earlier this year, the society made signing the document a condition for marching in this year's Pride Parade, which takes place on August 2.

      The Liberals have stated that the party considers transgender people to already be adequately protected under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

      Ell told News 1130 that the pledge controversy amounted to "political shenanigans" and that the society "should not be partisan".

       

      Comments

      15 Comments

      Gail Harmer

      Jul 27, 2015 at 8:52pm

      As an 'outsider' my response is that the Vancouver Pride Society is well rid of myopic directors such as this person!
      The BC Liberal Party is making a very 'political' stance on its refusal to support more protection for the 'trans' community!
      If you don't want 'political'/'partisan' intrusion in the event then exclude all 'political'/'partisan' participants in those same events!! Similarly, if you don't want 'commercialization' then exclude all 'commercial' participants.
      Give us a break!!!

      Barry William Teske

      Jul 27, 2015 at 10:36pm

      @ Gail Harmer

      Please define "outsider".

      Buh-bye

      Jul 27, 2015 at 11:47pm

      Good luck to Mr. Ell in his future endeavours. He has every right to refuse to participate in support of the BC Liberals. However, Pride Weekend - like everything else in the known universe - is better off without the BC Liberals and their supporters.

      Buh-bye.

      Anonymous

      Jul 28, 2015 at 7:04am

      When you start carving off specific groups of people as requiring special mention you have negated the coverage that all individuals have under the BC Human Rights Code. Too bad

      Too Bad

      Jul 28, 2015 at 7:05am

      One of the hallmarks of Pride Parade and it's rise as one of the best events of the year is that it felt inclusive. I suspect at the beginning the organizers were happy to have support from any level of government, but now they seem to be forgetting their beginnings and have become too inflexible. It's not the end of the world if the Libs don't sign this particular document, as presented, so why be so exclusionary? It doesn't mean that some compromise can be found in the future. It's a shame that Ell felt that he had to resign, but I respect his decision and I hope that the parade will continue to be a celebration and not a blunt, political hammer.

      ?

      Jul 28, 2015 at 8:48am

      Finally someone at the Pride group has some cajones. Its very disappointing that the gay pride crowd has now joined the mainstream with their prejudice and bigotry. Really, did these idiots actually check to make sure everyone who will be in the parade has signed the silly pledge??? I am no supporter of the Liberal party, but I am a supporter of equality. Partisan politics has no place in this parade, yet the gay crowd just can't resist acting like spoiled children. You just can't please some people.

      fisserguy

      Jul 28, 2015 at 9:56am

      krispy was also banned from point grey awhile back,but she snuck in via westbank Kelownapgzuu

      Susan Thomas

      Jul 28, 2015 at 3:19pm

      Good. Stand with the gay community, or don't march. The BC Liberals want to have their cake and eat it too. Easy enough...... sign the pledge!

      Uh...

      Jul 28, 2015 at 3:43pm

      It is already to illegal to discriminate against people who suffer from gender dysphoria, who treat their condition with sex reassignment surgery, clothes that match their perceived gender status, etc. etc.

      Respectfully disagree...

      Jul 28, 2015 at 5:34pm

      Not letting the liberal party participate doesn't mean that the pride society is being partisan. If the liberals really are "liberals", signing the petition shouldn't be a problem. Everybody else wanting to march has to sign too, so it's not like they're being singled out.
      They probably think that the human rights code already includes gender identity because they think sex, or what's between the legs, is the same as gender, or what's between the ears.