TORONTO — Allowing Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) to once again march in the Annual Pride Parade, scheduled for June 29, 2014, is most unfortunate, says B’nai Brith Canada. To date, Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak has been one of the few voicing opposition to QuAIA’s participation on the grounds that they unfairly slander and demonize the Jewish State.
B’nai Brith Canada CEO Frank Dimant issued the following statement:
“This year Toronto will be hosting WorldPride, allowing QuAIA to gain more attention than they would otherwise — with an audience of more than two million people.
“We applaud Councillor James Pasternak for putting forward an amendment, which passed, requiring cultural funding recipients to understand that a lack of compliance with the city’s new anti-discrimination policy could result in the forfeiture of current or future funding.
“While others have abandoned the push to keep QuAIA out of the Pride Parade, B’nai Brith Canada will continue to fight the bigotry and prejudice being espoused by this group. It is ironic that Israel, the only country in the Middle East not to persecute its queer community, is singled out for demonization by QuAIA.”
