Rob Ford orders rainbow flag removed from Toronto City Hall (and then backtracks)

[Newsjock]

Last edited Fri Feb 7, 2014, 03:19 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: CBC News

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he does not support having the rainbow flag flying at city hall during the Sochi Games, and has ordered the city manager to have it taken down.

The city hall flag flap, which happened while the opening ceremonies were underway in Russia Friday, began after the flag was raised in solidarity with other cities also flying the flag to show support for gay rights.

Ford responded by putting a Canadian flag in his office window.

"This is about Olympics," he told reporters. "This is about being patriotic to your country, this is not about someone's sexual preference."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-orders-rainbow-flag-removed-from-toronto-city-hall-1.2527565

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Updated story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-wanted-rainbow-flag-removed-from-toronto-city-hall-1.2527565

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he does not support having the rainbow flag flying at city hall during the Sochi Games, and initially ordered to have it taken down. But after meetings with other councillors, Ford has reportedly agreed to let the flag fly.

... Shortly after Ford made the comments, Coun. Anthony Perruzza went into the mayor's office to speak to him about the flag.

"I think we can fly both," said Perruzza. "There's an important principle at play here. We are an inclusive country."

Perruzza said he convinced Ford to let both the Canadian and the rainbow flag fly.

[valerief]

1. Yeah, smoke crack for patriotism instead!

[Faygo Kid]

2. Being lectured by Rob Ford about anything . . .

. . . makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

[polly7]

8. +1000. nt.

[George II]

3. Would he have been happy if it had this on the flag?

Come to think of it, except for the color it almost looks like the Canadian Flag!

[TexasTowelie]

6. Oh Cannabis!

National anthem for the land of the baked.

[polly7]

10. LOL!

I like it.

[Kelvin Mace]

4. Phillip Seymour Hoffman ODs

but this guy keeps breathing.

Yes, I know, that is a cheap and cruel shot, but its Friday, and it has been a bad week.

[RKP5637]

5. Yep, that might be so, but Putin is the one that has turned the Olympics into being

about sexual orientation. He started the entire thing, others are now trying to defend themselves from his bigoted agenda. For fuck sake, fly the rainbow flag, what's the BFD!

[dipsydoodle]

19. He started what ?

If you mean the Federal law which was passed last July that merely consolidated the existing laws in most of the 84 federations / regions which had nothing whatsoever to do with Putin. Removal of the Federal law would have no bearing on the regional laws which prior to last July everyone seems to have ignored.

[RKP5637]

20. That, was pretty much a convoluted reply I made! I was thinking mostly of what I feel

is a wet blanket thrown over the Olympics in many areas by Putin, just by his nature. Maybe it's just me, but my enthusiasm about the Olympics just isn't as prevalent this time around. That said, Rob Ford is a fool.

[dipsydoodle]

21. Yes I in turn ahd overlooked that the OP was re. Ford.

I don't have much interest in sport anyway but during the Olympics there are occasional examples of extreme excellence so I just watch bits. We'll get subjected to it , like it or not , on our TV news here in the UK and doubtless you will too.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Way to evaporate any and all good will toward your silly shenannigans, Mr. Ford.

No more lovable-interpretation of your drug-addled barney fife antics.

[shenmue]

9. How about human rights?

You know, the right to be treated like a human being?

Shut up, idiot Ford.

[SoapBox]

11. ...what a freak.

[bullwinkle428]

12. Shut the fuck up, Rob Ford. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?

[Dawson Leery]

13. Typical tory filfth.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. The Olympic Games are about the brotherhood of all humans

Homophobia, like all forms of bigotry, is about some people being superior to others and having the power to tell them what to do.

This one's for you, Mr. Mayor. You are cordially invited to rejoin the human race into which you were born. To President Putin, likewise to you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, whether you are a real sick homophobe or just a political demagogue. And to all right wing fundies, let us not waste time hating other people for the way God made them.
[center]

[/center][font size="1"]From The Thinking Housewife
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[truthisfreedom]

15. At least he let his addled brain be convinced to fly both.

Stupid schmuck.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Sexual preference? Is Toronto located in the 1900's?

I love Toronto, but Ford is making that difficult.

[polly7]

17. Believe me, Ford's opinions don't represent Toronto's or Canada's any more than

Bush or Palin or any other right-wing fanatic does for the U.S.

He's a disgusting, brain-addled pos.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. You'll note I said I love Toronto, been there a few times a very excellent city

In fact, it's hard to imagine how he got elected considering the diverse and open minded nature of the city. On the other hand it is really fun for us as Americans to know we are not alone in the political slime category, North American division.

[okaawhatever]

18. I do agree that both flags should be flown. If the flagpole traditionally holds the Canadian flag I

think the rainbow flag should have been added to it, not replaced it. I think replacing the flag almost makes it sound like it isn't Canada's official position. Sort of like rent-a-flagpole. While Ford and I have arrived at this conclusion for different reasons, I think it's more powerful to fly them together because it's like "Canada approves of this message."

I don't know what the other cities did, though. Just my humble opinion.

[blkmusclmachine]

23. So, he's a bigot, too, yes?

[Heywood J]

24. Don't worry, he has enough to eat at home. (NT)