Not your average Joe, or your average candidate

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone is the only mayoral candidate to support Pride Toronto's decision regarding Queers Against Israeli Apartheid to fully participate in Pride Week activities. Pride Toronto previously prohibited the group from participating, but that decision was reversed last week. Not your average Joe, indeed. From votetoronto2010.com:

As Toronto’s Pride weekend approaches, tempers remain hot over its organizers’ decision not to ban a group called Queers Against Israeli Apartheid from taking part in Pride Week events. Pride Toronto, the group behind the festivities, had previously banned QuAIA, only to overturn the ban last week. Instead, they asked that all groups read and sign the City of Toronto’s Anti-Discrimination Policy. As Mayor David Miller raised the flag on Pride 2010, here’s where the mayoral candidates stand on the issue:

Giorgio Mammoliti: “…The City of Toronto rejects all future applications for Pride for funding and support.”

The city councillor has been an outspoken opponent of QuAIA. Upon news of the ban’s reversal, Mr. Mammoliti crafted a resolution that he plans to put to council at its next meeting (after the festival ends), which would not only retroactively retract the city’s $250,000 funding of the event, but permanently bar Pride from receiving city funding.

George Smitherman: “Pride is too important an event to be hijacked.”

The only openly gay leading candidate for mayor, Mr. Smitherman issued a statement that rejected the term ‘Israeli Apartheid,’ calling it “as odious a term as it is divisive.” However, obliquely he defended Pride Toronto’s decision, noting that a volunteer organization couldn’t have enforced the ban. He also took a swipe at candidates who are trying to cut Pride’s funding.

“Unfortunately there are still those in our city who would look for any reason to deny funding and support for Pride, and this only plays into their hands,” he wrote.

Rob Ford: “I’m going to do everything I can to stop this.”

Mr. Ford didn’t mince words, saying in a statement that he was “disgusted” with the ban’s reversal. “Pride Toronto just doesn’t get it – this taxpayer funded parade is not about international conflicts.” Throwing his support behind Mr. Mammoliti’s resolution to de-fund Pride, noting that other events like the St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Santa Claus parade don’t receive City funding.

Joe Pantalone: “I applaud their decision…”

The deputy mayor, alone amongst the leading candidates, voiced his support for the organizing committee and their decision. “I support the board of Pride Toronto in the difficult decisions they have had to make in recent weeks,” he wrote. Making no specific reference to QuAIA, he applauded Pride Toronto for having all groups sign the anti-discrimination policy.

Rocco Rossi: “I continue to believe that the best solution is to keep hate speech out of the parade.”

Mr. Rossi’s brief statement reiterated his earlier support for keeping QuAIA out, noting that Pride is an event that’s “about love.”

“It’s the mayor’s job not just to raise flags, but to raise awareness. As mayor I will ensure that next year Pride will return to its roots as a loving and welcoming celebration.”

Sarah Thompson: “Feelings of hate have no place in the Pride parade and I am very dissappointed with the board’s flip flop on this decision.”

On her campaign’s Facebook wall, Ms. Thomson issued a one-paragraph note voicing her opposition to overturning the ban, and echoing others’ use of the term ‘hate speech’ to describe QuAIA’s participation.