Foreskin Pride rejected from Vancouver Pride parade for full-frontal nudity

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      Last year, Glen Callender, founder of the Canadian Foreskin Awareness Project and Foreskin Pride, marched with full-frontal nudity for the first time in the three years he's participated in the Pride parade and events.

      But after that revealing show-and-tell, he has found himself rejected from this year's upcoming parade to be held on August 4.

      Callender received a letter on July 10 that Foreskin Pride, which raises awareness of circumcision on male minors, was denied participation in the 2013 Vancouver Pride parade, which will be held on August 4. Callender said that this year's application was rejected based on a violation of parade rules and regulations.

      Callender claimed that he had cleared his plans to be nude in last year's parade with VPS parade director Tim Kraumanis prior to the event.

      In a phone interview, Vancouver Pride Society general manager Ray Lam, however, told a different story.

      "I have spoken to our parade director," he said. "He is very much aware of our rules and he would not have given any advice or any consent to a violation to the parade rules or Canadian law. That is just not something that we do."

      Callender told the Georgia Straight by phone that he was informed that there were also complaints of harassment against his contingent of 13 people.

      "I'm shocked to find out 339 days after the parade that there are these hidden harassment complaints against us," Callender said. "They won't show them. Ray Lam has said he is unable to reveal the names of people who decided Foreskin Pride would be banned from the parade. He is unable to disclose the documents that they cite in saying that we are refused. He won't show me that. He also told me that there is no mechanism available for me to dispute or challenge the decision…."

      Lam said by phone that he couldn't discuss the complaints because they are trying to protect individuals from being targeted. He said that due to the number of applications they receive, they haven't been able to inform everyone who has a violation, but they're implementing a new system this year to inform people immediately after the parade.

      Lam emphasized that the main issue is space.

      "Every year, we receive over 200 applications for the parade," he said. "Due to size and length restrictions and the duration of the parade, we limit it to about 120 participants. So that means almost half of the people are declined. And that's just an unfortunate reality of the size of the parade. We get a lot more applications than we can accommodate."

      He added that they have to make tough decisions to maintain the parade's three-hour length.

      "We have a very rigorous selection process where we look at the organization's fit with the community, the fit with Pride, why they want to march in our parade, how they support the LGBT community, and we rank them based on that. However, a serious consideration is violation. So if someone has violated parade rules in the past, then that's obviously taken into consideration when we're looking at individual applications."

      Lam emphasized that no one has been banned from the parade, and that Foreskin Pride can apply again next year.

      Callender explained that he decided to use full-frontal nudity to convey his message of body acceptance.

      "The idea that genitals are dirty and shameful is the basis of both the nudity taboos and the belief that there is something wrong with the boy's penis so you have to circumcise the baby because genitalia are dirty and need to be reduced," he said. "I'm proud to walk around the street with my completely healthy, normal, harmless body and make that statement, that I love my foreskin. It's a valuable body part."

      He also argued that nudity in the Pride parade has a "long, historical basis" and is "an integral part of the heritage of Pride" and sexual liberation. He pointed to the example of the World Naked Bike Ride, which doesn't result in arrests.

      Lam pointed out that women can participate in the parade barebreasted, which is not against the law, but bottom nudity is illegal, he said. He added that one of their priorities is to welcome everyone.

      "The parade is a family event and the main consideration for us is the space that we're creating and the environment that we're creating. We want to make sure that people come out to the parade feel comfortable and that…they're not alienated in any way….Nudity is against the law and we want to make sure that the people who do come out who are law-abiding citizens are enjoying the parade to the extent that they should be enjoying the parade."

      Callender theorized that the VPS was trying to "sanitize" the parade because it received civic status on May 29. Lam denied that the rejection had anything to do with that, or any of their partners.

      Callender said that if they are not accepted in the parade, they may show up in protest.

      "Nudity is the stupidest human taboo and we need to stop it," he said.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/StraightLGBT.

      Comments

      53 Comments

      RUK

      Jul 12, 2013 at 3:28pm

      "Size and length restrictions"

      Hee!

      Show Of Hands

      Jul 12, 2013 at 3:46pm

      He said 'penis'...

      Ha!

      Seriously, it's time the Pride Parade grew up and rejected some of these glorified exhibitionists. To some, being nude and semi nude in public may smack of 'liberation' but really, if that is all we can focus on, celebrate and talk about as being related to LGBT, I think the movement still has a ways to go.

      Richard

      Jul 12, 2013 at 3:55pm

      Its a sad day when someone can't tell the difference between sexuality and nudity.

      Snick

      Jul 12, 2013 at 4:56pm

      Laws against nudity are design to restrict and control sexual expression. Laws have and still do exist that restrict homosexual behavior. These pride parades were designed to break down the social and legal barriers queer people have had to endure. But now pride has now come to epitomize sexual freedom for all and I think breaking down the nudity taboo is the next step in sexual liberation.

      Shame on Vancouver Pride. You guys gave Glen the ok to be naked and now all of a sudden it's not ok...you could have simply told him he can't be naked this year. He is a reasonable individual who I'm sure would respect those guidelines.

      Wagamuffin

      Jul 12, 2013 at 5:33pm

      It's a sadder day when someone can't tell the difference between shaking their money-maker in private, versus the public domain.

      Not everyone wants to see others...short-comings.

      Stay classy, Richard.

      Hazlit

      Jul 12, 2013 at 5:40pm

      Seriously, it's time the Pride Parade grew up and accepted some of these nudists. There is nothing wrong with nudity. To some liberation is really just their right to impose "family values" on everyone else. If being LGBT (or simply being human) is just about whitewashing sexuality from the public sphere then what are we fighting for?

      Be The Change

      Jul 12, 2013 at 5:42pm

      What next?

      Doesn't anyone care about our children...do they
      really need to have some losers foreskin flashed in front of their faces...get real.

      Wagamuffin

      Jul 12, 2013 at 6:06pm

      Wait a minute.

      If Pride is supposed to represent 'sexual freedom' for all (Really? I didn't know that was its mandate), shouldn't this logically suggest that sexual intercourse---in all it's wonderful manifestations---be accepted as part of the public display during the Parade?

      Or are you confusing 'sexuality' with 'sexual display in public'?

      And so people who want to be free to express their full 'sexuality' in public---rather than celebrate their 'sexual preferenc'e---are free to do that, to the exclusion of any of those horrid, freedom killing 'community standards'?

      Discuss.

      cathy

      Jul 12, 2013 at 6:17pm

      Naked or not i think this year's Pride Parade needs detour and go past "The Centre" downtown now owned by a Christian Fundamentalist Church from Burnaby.
      Give the bible thumpers the welcome they so richly deserve.

      Ron Low

      Jul 12, 2013 at 7:33pm

      Callender's performance is truly an art piece to call attention to barbaric treatment from which males are not protected.

      Foreskin feels REALLY good. Seriously, it's the best part, yet a male has no right to be protected from non-therapeutic amputations. I'm delighted this issue is getting press, even if it's regarding a ban. Let's PROTECT BOYS TOO!