Posted on 07/10/2006 8:48:00 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
Ottawa Pride saved from untimely demise CAPITAL PRIDE / Not-for-profit fronts $20,000 for struggling Pride fest
Jefferson Mendoza / Capital Xtra / Monday, July 10, 2006
A unifying moment for Ottawa's queer community occurred today when it was announced that Capital Xtra -- under the paper's parent company Pink Triangle Press -- will be providing the emergency funding of $20,000 to the Pride Committee Of Ottawa-Gatineau. Representatives from both organizations shook hands at the Human Rights Memorial, just in front of city hall, during the announcement.
The 2006 Pride festival will be renamed Capital Pride, not inspired from the paper's name, but rather from the festival?s focus on queers in the nation's capital for 20 years and counting.
Chair of the Pride Committee Of Ottawa-Gatineau, Darren Fisher, and Capital Xtra's associate publisher, Gareth Kirkby, spoke of the importance of having a Pride Week festival in the capital when the city itself did not support the festival.
The city's mayor and its suburban and rural city councillors voted against a request for emergency funding from the Pride committee last week. It was the first time that the Pride Committee applied to the emergency fund, requesting $20,000. Other festivals that have asked for emergency funding this year, including the Franco-Ontarien ($75,000) and the Tulip festival ($50,000), received the money.
The Pride festival includes a parade that literally saves lives, Kirkby told reporters, adding that only a few festivals have been able to do that.
Asked whether the paper has gone from being a reporter to a caped crusader, Kirkby said the paper is one entity that has decided to step to the plate in order to make this festival successful. The queer community is encouraged to support the festival by attending the various events that will be organized by the Pride Committee such as paying the gate fee and buying beer at the designated drinking area. The amount generated from this year will determine the survival of next year's festival.
The risk of losing this year's festival has sparked renewed queer awareness in the capital. The struggle to save the local festival has taken place amidst the debates that affect the whole country, such as the current federal government's promise to reopen Bill C-38: The Marriage Act that allows same-sex couples to marry.
Capital Xtra today received its first donation toward Pride from an unknown contributor. When she handed over the $20 bill early this morning, two hours after she first heard the news in a radio interview, she said she believes that Pride is a worthy cause. Those who wish to donate can do so by checking out the Pride Committee's website (www.Prideottawa.com)
"The festival is fairly back on track with the cash flow," says Fisher. "But if you want it big, you need to get involved.... Together we will make it happen."
The elitists are clearly out of touch with the average citizen, and the Mayor and Council knows that. It was especially courageous for Mayor Bob Chiarelli to vote against the motion, knowing he has a long pro-gay record. Maybe he's trying to move out of the shadow of queer extremist Alex Munter (mayoral candidate)?
This has low support in suburban Ottawa and is completely despised in the rural sections.
How so?
No idea. Probably some garbage propaganda that means nothing.
Well, so long as it isn't tax payer dollars, I don't have a problem with this.
The way I see it that's money down the drain, and gay festivals tend to "turn off" communities to the gay agenda, so it is money ill spent too. On top of that, that money won't be funding more subversive, less open and transparent gay activism.
Let's see....it helps save lives because gays who might be depressed find friends and a "healthy" outlet for that depression?
It was defeated 15-3 when it went to City Council.
The three that voted for it represent 90% of the gays in Ottawa.
Good!
Perhaps, or they really meant saves lives by treating their condition?
Yeah, right.
From personal experience, here's a list of the people who pride parades appeal to:
Young homosexuals who feel like they need to prove something
Old homosexuals who didn't outgrow the need to prove something
Anybody who likes to have drunken, high-priced fun in a strongly-themed environment (the types who go to nightclubs frequently)
Everybody else has a reaction somewhere between non-understanding to open hostility. Meh.
How much longer before normal people quit using the English word "pride"? Just like we have been forced to quit using "gay" and "queer".
And just why does anybody take "pride" in packing fudge with his wangdoodle?
No idea, they love to hijack good words, like "tolerance", "diversity" and "human rights"...
Pride Festival Still Angry with City Council
Josh Pringle
Monday, July 10, 2006
Organizers of the Ottawa-Gatineau Pride Festival claim some Ottawa City Councillors displayed homophobia by refusing to give the event more money.
Darren Fisher is still angry that Council rejected a request for 20-thousand dollars in emergency funding.
Ottawa's monthly gay and lesbian newspaper, Capital Xtra!, and its publisher have agreed to front the festival the money.
Fisher says the funding will save this year's Pride Week.
Council says it treated the Pride Festival the same as it would any other event that owes taxpayers more than 65-thousand dollars.
http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=1&nid=40798
They're confusing "pride" with "not shame." Being proud of one's sexual orientation makes as much sense as being proud of the color of your eyes or how tall you are. It's not an accomplishment to be gay.
Thanks for the ping.
The 2006 Pride festival will be renamed Capital Pride, not inspired from the paper's name, but rather from the festival?s focus on queers in the nation's capital for 20 years and counting.
Regardless -renaming it does not change what it is. -- A homosexual sex promotion parade...
Having any manner of mental illness is never an accomplishment. We won't even get into the multi-billion dollar public health issues of gay bowel syndrome. I just don't see the pride in fascination with fecal material held in such high regard by male homosexuals and their pederastic brethren in nambla. I must be missing something. Jacko where are you?
I used to be taken in by the 'pride' lie, and went on a number of these parades over some years. I didn't feel at all proud, but beneath the facade of joviality, I felt embarassment and a certain shame about it all.
I'm sure that a lot of the homos who go on these parades feel the same way, but don't actually acknowledge it. How can homos walking amongst a parade of sexually overt perverts and find any pride on it? They call it 'pride' in order to make it as acceptable as they can.
It's just another propaganda tool for the homosexual agenda. That's it's whole point.
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