Foes blast Ford over decision to skip Pride parade

He’s marched with the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and St. Patrick’s Day revellers, but Toronto’s mayor won’t be joining the city’s annual Pride Parade.

Rob Ford is skipping the celebration that draws roughly half a million people to Toronto’s streets to spend the Canada Day weekend in cottage country with his family. That decision – which breaks a tradition of mayors marching that spans more than a decade – is a reminder, say leaders of the gay community, of how fragile the gains are that they have made. Showing up for Pride, they say, would be an easy way for the mayor to show support for an important part of the Toronto community. Taking a pass, they say, sends the wrong message.

  

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