Hate Messaging Does Not Belong in Pride

Hi Friends and Supporters

I just became aware of this Anti Israel Group marching in our Pride parade on Sunday and I am upset regarding their hate messaging. So far the Pride President Mr Ken Coolen has dove for cover on this matter and is saying Nothing. Please read my quick piece and spread the word.


HATE MESSAGING DOES NOT BELONG in PRIDE

I am somewhat displeased that a group marching in our Pride Parade instead of marching in support of rights for queer Palestinians is instead using our freedom day parade to attack a state known for supporting women and gay rights.

It seems to me that if those individuals who are in support of an Islam state which has a deplorable record of squashing women and gay rights, wishes to express themselves, they would be better heard if they chose to focus their efforts on condemning the leadership of Palestine instead of attacking Israel.

Pride has always been about our struggles and the hard fought wins we have achieved. And many of us are very proud that Israel is the only Arab state with a positive gay rights record.

So why is our Pride leadership saying nothing regarding a group in our parade whose sole purpose it seems is to spread hate, in this case, hate directed at Israel and the Jewish people?

It really is clear that the Vancouver chapter of Vancouver Queers against Israel are people from the hard left who despise Israel and are using our parade to spread their thinly veiled anti-semitism and shame on our queer media for providing a platform for this hate group and not providing any balance whatsoever.

Imagine if a group of Nazi queers marched in our parade carrying signs of Hitler. Would we also support this saying Queer Nazis have the right to express themselves even if the message is one of hate? I think many are aware how Hitler deposed many gay and transsexual/transgender people to the gas chambers, as he did Jewish people.

Our parade needs to stand in solidarity with our Israel born friends and denounce groups who are intent on spewing hate whether it is against us or our friends.

This group Vancouver Queers against Israel has an agenda and their signs which call Israel an Apartheid state is in extreme poor taste and could possibly be illegal under the Hate Crimes of Canada legislation.

Perhaps Chief Jim Chu of the Vancouver Police Department who will also be marching in the parade needs to investigate and determine whether this group is in fact spreading hate.

Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.com



"I believe you change the world One man at a time"