Also see https://anti-69.ca/funding/ for much of the appended material referred to in this letter of complaint.
Click here to download a PDF of the complaint.
Letter-to-Pride-Board-re-Heritage-Canada-Nov-28-2019November 28, 2019
Dear members of the Board of Pride Toronto,
I submit the following letter regarding the actions of the Executive Director of Pride Toronto (ED).
I am a historian of the 1981 Toronto bathhouse raids, an event that directly inspired the formation of Pride Toronto. It is also an event that is part of a longer history of the criminalization of LGBTQ2+ people in the decades that followed the 1969 criminal code reform. This year, I helped form the Anti-69 Network, a group of academics and activists dedicated to resisting the mythologies of the 1969 criminal code reform. Namely, the myth that 1969 represents the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada.
The Anti-69 Network connected this myth to continuing restrictions on abortion access after 1969, the impact of family law on lesbians, and the 1969 White Paper attempt to extinguish Indigenous
sovereignty. My research on 1969 included an access to information request from the Department of Canadian Heritage. I decided to raise the issues in this letter based on the documents obtained through that request.
This matter is not based on an academic disagreement on the history of 1969. I believe the actions of the ED in this matter, which involve $250,000 from Canadian Heritage, may raise concerns related to the transparency and credibility of Pride Toronto. I believe the Board has a duty to act in its oversight role to fully investigate the various problems raised in this letter.
I summarize the matter into four main points:
• The ED did not tell the truth to a member in good standing of Pride Toronto who made a direct
enquiry about funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
• The ED manufactured history by claiming on the grant application that Canada was the “first
country in the 1st world” to decriminalize homosexuality.
• The ED made police participation a central component of the grant application contrary to the
explicit will of the membership.
• The events promised in the ED’s grant application did not occur.
The ED did not tell the truth to a member in good standing of Pride Toronto who made a direct enquiry about funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
1. On February 27, 2019, Pride Toronto sent a notice to all members with the subject heading,
“Celebrating 50 Years Of Decriminalization Of Homosexuality In Canada.” That day, I contacted
the ED requesting information regarding any funding granted to Pride Toronto toward the
celebration of “decriminalization”. This initiated a string of emails in which the ED denied that
Pride Toronto received any financial incentive to promote such a celebration.
2. In the February 27, 2019 email exchange, the ED stated to me,
“Our theme is not the 50th year of decriminalization of homosexuality in
Canada. It is actually ‘50th Year of the Stonewall Riots.’ Financial incentives
are a moot point in this regard, there is no celebration happening in
relation to Pride Toronto, so no lineup is being given for that purpose.
Please do not rely on rumour or conjecture, in this case you have been
totally mislead.” [Appendix A page 2]
3. I replied,
“I know for a fact that Canadian Heritage has sponsored several community
organizations provided they incorporate, in some way, the 50th anniversary
of the Criminal Code reform. Can you tell me, in clear/certain terms: has
PrideTO received, or will PrideTO receive, any financial incentives related to
the 50th anniversary of decriminalization? If the point is moot, I will drop it.
But if the point is moot, you should easily be able to answer “no” to that
question.” [Appendix A page 1]
4. The ED replied, “‘No’ is the direct answer.” [Appendix A page 1]
5. In May 2019 I completed an access to information request for a list of groups who received
funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage to celebrate 1969 as “decriminalization.”
The document release states, “here is a list of project initiative [sic] that has received a financial
contribution from the Commemorate Canada Program, in order to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in 2019.” [Appendix B]
6. This list indicates that Pride Toronto received $250,000. The project title states,
“Commemorating 50 years of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.” [Appendix B]
7. In June 2019 I initiated a second access to information request. This request was for a copy of
the application for each group who received funding under the Commemorate Canada Program.
This included Pride Toronto’s application. [Appendix C]
8. Pride Toronto’s grant application states,
“Our project is commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Decriminalization
and it will launch during Pride Month. We will be highlighting notable
figures in Canadian activism and politics that made legalization possible. We
will hold a number of panels and other roundtables inviting notable figures
to talk to our festival goers about this notable period in our history.”
[Appendix C page 3]
9. The grant application was signed by the ED on November 7, 2018. [Appendix C page 7]
The ED manufactured history by claiming on the grant application that Canada was the “first country in the 1st world” to decriminalize homosexuality.
10. The grant application states,
“Enhance knowledge and understanding of the shared history and values of
Canada. As Canadians we value diversity and inclusion and
decriminalization marks a significant period in Canadian history. It was also
the first country in the 1st world to decriminalize homosexuality and marks
a significant period in Canada’s history when it took a step for which the
rest of the developed world followed. We want to use LGBTQ2+ festivals to
highlight why this period signified Canada as a truly diverse and inclusive
country.” [Appendix C page 3]
11. The United Kingdom passed the Sexual Offences Act in 1967, two years prior to 1969. Various
other countries in the “developed world” passed their “decriminalization” bills in the years and
decades prior.
12. According to the Department of Canadian Heritage website, grant applications are evaluated
based on five criteria, including, “how it enhances knowledge and understanding of the shared
history and values of Canada.”
13. The declarations and agreements page of the grant application, signed by the ED, states, “the
information contained in this application is accurate and complete.” [Appendix C page 6]
The ED made police participation a central component of the grant application contrary to the explicit will of the membership.
14. On January 17, 2017, the membership at the AGM of Pride Toronto adopted a motion
supporting 8 demands put forward by Black Lives Matter – Toronto. These demands were read
as part of the motion, these included a ban on police institutions participating in pride
festivities.
15. At the November 21st, 2017, AGM, the membership sought a clarification of the minutes for the
January 17, 2017 AGM. The membership sought to include in the minutes the demands of Black
Lives Matter – Toronto as they were read and adopted at the meeting. The ED agreed to amend
the minutes and to reaffirm Pride Toronto’s commitment to the demands.
16. The grant application states,
“we are also working with law enforcement and will be working with forces
that participate in Prides and are particularly targeting police services in
celebration. Project beneficiaries are very broad, firstly we will be working
with community organizations across each Pride to consult about how
community safety strategies [sic]. We will be holding focus groups with
service users across each organization, talking to people that use services
about how we can further better relationships with police services.”
[Appendix C page 3]
17. On November 24, 2018, the funding for this application was announced in conjunction with an
additional grant of $200,000 from the Department of Public Safety.
18. On November 29, 2018, Pride Toronto posted a note on Facebook indicating that police hadbeen invited to participate in Pride.
The events promised in the ED’s application for funding did not occur.
19. The grant application states,
“This project is focused on the Decriminalization of Homosexuality. This is a
5-year project which has several components, which includes:
1. June 2019-June 2020 – Opening gala commemorating 50 years of
decriminalization, the development of a website, the creation of an
interactive educational tool available online, the launch of a national
council made up of members of the Association of Police Chiefs, key
LGBTQ2+ community organizations, and people with lived experience.
2. The project will develop key online tools including a website, and an
interactive tool which can be accessed on line, printed material including a
guide and programming centered on commemorating this key milestone for
LGBTQ2+ communities.
3. The project will also include nationwide focus groups, which will drill
down to the experiences of LGBTQ2+ communities both on and off reserve.
4. The project will work with each Pride taking place in the summer of 2019
to launch and promote the project in their own communities.
5. On each festival site the project will develop and activation focused on
the online tools we develop, encouraging festival goers to engage with the
project, learn about the legacy of LGBTQ2+ communities in Canada, and
learn about how to participate in the consultations and focus groups to be
held across each city that the activation visits.
6. As a part of this project we will be developing an awareness raising
campaign that will involve our national media partners, including
commercial spots, radio and print media.” [Appendix C page 3]
The 2019 Toronto Pride Guide mentions decriminalization in two locations: 1) an advertisement
placed by the Canadian Mint for a special edition coin, 2) an advertisement promoting the
launch of a film developed by Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. There is no reference to an
opening gala or of a project being launched by Pride Toronto to commemorate
decriminalization.
My requests of the Board:
I am asking the Board to investigate the matters raised in this letter. I am asking the Board to determine
if the actions of the ED have compromised the transparency and credibility of Pride Toronto.
Specifically, I am asking the Board:
• Provide written answers to my questions blow at least 48 hours prior to the announced mid-
January Special General Meeting.
• Arrange an opportunity for me to present these issues to the Board, this ask may not be
required depending on the written response of the Board to my questions below.
• Place the matter of “Transparency in Pride Toronto Grant Applications” as an agenda item at the
upcoming Annual General Meeting, this ask may not be required depending on the written
response of the Board to my questions below.
Questions for the Board:
• This matter involves $250,000 in funding to Pride Toronto from the Department of Canadian
Heritage.
– Does the Board of Pride Toronto have the responsibility to conduct oversight regarding
the actions of the ED in this matter?
• In the February 27, 2019 email exchange, I asked the ED for a direct answer whether Pride
Toronto received financial incentives to celebrate decriminalization, the ED replied “‘No’ is the
direct answer.”
– Was the ED’s reply truthful?
– Does the Board regard this as transparency?
• The grant application makes the claim that Canada was “the first country in the 1st world to
decriminalize homosexuality” and that Canada “took a step for which the rest of the developed
world followed.”
– Does this claim threaten Pride Toronto’s credibility in future grant applications?
• The grant application connects financial incentives from the federal government to the
participation of police in pride activities.
– Does the Board regard this as a violation of the motion adopting the 8 demands of Black
Lives Matter – Toronto at the January 17, 2017 AGM, reaffirmed into the minutes at the
November 21st, 2017 AGM?
– Was there pressure from the federal government to include the police in the proposed
celebration of decriminalization? Did this pressure include financial incentives?
• The 2019 Pride Guide does not mention Pride Toronto activities related to decriminalization.
– What happened to the events proposed in the Pride Toronto grant application to
celebrate decriminalization?
– What happened to the $250,000 in federal government funding for this project to
celebrate decriminalization?
I thank the Board in advance for considering this matter.
Dr. Tom Hooper
(he/him) – thooper@yorku.ca
Member of Pride Toronto
Tom Hooper
Subject: FW: Re[2]: Re[2]: Notice: 50 years since decriminalization?
From: Olivia Nuamah <olivia@pridetoronto.com>
Sent: February 27, 2019 3:09 PM
To: thooper@yorku.ca
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Re[2]: Notice: 50 years since decriminalization?
Hi Tom
No worries.
‘No’ is the direct answer.
Secondly, I don’t question your expertise, I question your analysis.
A question to the membership is not enough to obtain their personal details. You must propose a question, the board
must agree that a special meeting must be called based on the question you have proposed. Then a meeting is called
(though the board must agree that the question requires a special meeting), with legal notice, then you request and will
get the membership list.
You simply can’t decide you don’t like a decision, in this case, I suppose the decision you don’t like is the heading of our
newsletter, and then call on the board to call a meeting about it.
Thanks
Olivia
On Wed, Feb 27, 2019 at 2:59 PM <thooper@yorku.ca> wrote:
Hi Olivia,
I am not talking about the theme, you have clarified that. As indicated, I am talking about the subject heading and the
first line of your message regarding the Pride theme, which clearly perpetuates the decriminalization myth. I have not
been misled, I am an expert in the criminalization of LGBTQ2 people in Canada. I know for a fact that Canadian
Heritage has sponsored several community organizations provided they incorporate, in some way, the 50th anniversary
of the Criminal Code reform.
Can you tell me, in clear/certain terms: has PrideTO received, or will PrideTO receive, any financial incentives related to
the 50th anniversary of decriminalization?
If the point is moot, I will drop it. But if the point is moot, you should easily be able to answer “no” to that question.
Thank you for clarifying the process for obtaining the members list. If I must proceed on this matter, I will submit an
articulated question to put to the members.
APPENDIX A
Tom
From: Olivia Nuamah <olivia@pridetoronto.com>
Sent: February 27, 2019 2:41 PM
To: thooper@yorku.ca
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Re[2]: Notice: 50 years since decriminalization?
Hi Tom
Our theme is not 50th year of decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada. It is actually ‘50th Year of the Stonewall
Riots.’
Financial incentives are a moot point in this regard, there is no celebration happening in relation to Pride Toronto, so
no lineup is being given for that purpose. Please do not rely on rumour or conjecture, in this case you have been totally
mislead. You really should wait until we actually make an announcement on our theme before deciding to act.
As for access to the members list, the law specific and clear on this matter, it states that this may happen in relation to
a meeting of the membership of a question being put to them in the context of a resolution / matter to be voted on. It
can only be done in that specific context. It would be improper in this case.
Thanks
Olivia