Queer Ontario Provides Pride Toronto with an Alternative to the Dispute Resolution Process
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Finds faults in the Dispute Resolution Panel’s ruling on QuAIA’s participation in the Toronto Pride Parade
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Queer Ontario would like to offer Pride Toronto an alternative solution for addressing political dissent within the community and/or among funders, inspired by the July 12 release of the Dispute Resolution Panel’s (DRP) rationale for allowing Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) to march in the Toronto Pride Parade…
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Although the rationale reveals itself to be reasonable, it is nevertheless replete with procedural issues. This includes concerns about apprehensions of bias; the formality of the legal process; and confusions regarding the legitimacy of complaints.
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Queer Ontario recognizes the important role that dispute resolution processes play in certain venues, but feels that this model is grossly ill-fitted for what ultimately needs to be a community-based Pride Festival put on by the community, for the community.
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To this end, Queer Ontario recommends that:
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1. The Pride Toronto Board take on the responsibility of interpreting and enacting the organization’s mandate, by working with the community to ensure inclusivity, as outlined in the organization’s mission and values.
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2. The Pride Toronto Board abolish the DRP and never force a community group to have to justify its right to take part in the Pride festival again.
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3. The Pride Toronto Board commit itself to community development, which includes educating individuals within Toronto’s LGBTQ communities about the complexities of our politics, and encouraging a place of understanding and pluralism.
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4. The Pride Toronto Board commit itself to public education, where it teaches its stakeholders about the significance of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly within our communities.
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For further reading, Queer Ontario provides an analysis on the DRP decision at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/100368095/QueerOntario-DRPRulingAnalysis
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For Interviews:
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Nick Mulé
Queer Ontario Chairperson
nickjmule@gmail.com
416.926.9135
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A PDF version of this release can be found here:
A downloadable version can be found here: Release: New DRP Solution
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A PDF version of the ruling analysis can be found here:
A downloadable version can be found here: DRP Ruling Analysis
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