This typically inaccurate, homophobic and sensationalist article and the accompanying letter appeared in the Toronto Sun on July 4th. It's errors were quickly pointed out by the rest of the media in the city, who quoted a statement from the Police Commissioner dismissing the statements quoted below as "the opinions of just one officer".
Back to TNT!MEN's Pride 1997 page.
By AARON SANDS
Toronto Sun
Raw hide in the name of gay pride will no longer be tolerated, police say.
Metro Police are threatening to put a stop to the annual Gay Pride Day parade, claiming excessive nudity and perversion at last Sunday's march.
They say they'll soon sit down with parade organizers to address some "major concerns" - such as bondage-slave floats and stark naked participants sauntering past wide-eyed children watching the Yonge St. spectacle last weekend.
Hundreds of thousands of people crowded downtown streets to see bottomless men flaunting their genitals, bound and naked men being tortured with feathers and whips, men with pierced testicles in open view, and leather-clad masters whipping and pulling their leashed slaves.
Mayor Barbara Hall refused comment yesterday, and Councillor Kyle Rae, whose ward includes the heart of Toronto's gay community, was on holidays and unavailable for comment. Both Hall and Rae took part in the parade.
"It just seems to be escalating past the point of fair play ... and common decency," said 52 Division Sgt. Peter Harmsen, who supervised the parade. "We're certainly concerned. If this type of thing happens next year, we'll stop the parade.
`IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT'
"My worry is where does it go from here? It's just not right. You wouldn't be able to do those things anywhere else."
Harmsen said police manpower for the parade was limited due to Queen Elizabeth's tour of town. "There was nothing we could do because of how busy it was at the time and they knew that and were taking advantage of it."
He said officers warned nude marchers that they'd be arrested. "They re-clad themselves but then they'd do it again when they were further down the street."
Harmsen said he's confident the parade will be cleaned up. "We don't want to have a big fight."
Parade organizer Doug Dent said the bondage floats and nudity were "quite tame. There was nothing that I found unacceptable. We're not in the position to do police work if people are breaking the law."
Dent said organizers are open to discussions with police, who said they've received several complaints from concerned citizens.
Erika Kubassek, of the citizens group Moral Support Movement, sent letters of complaint yesterday to Police Chief David Boothby, Premier Mike Harris and Attorney-General Charles Harnick.
"There's a law in the books and it should be enforced," Kubassek said. "Citizens are extremely offended that this shameless and perverted behavior is tolerated."
In the very same issue of the Sun, the above quote Kubassek, no doubt president, founder, and only member of her so-called "movement", had the following letter printed.
Erika Kubassek
Moral Support Movement
(So is the year 2001 -Ed.)
Karen Palmer, Toronto Star Staff Reporter
The Ontario government will not recognize the union of two gay couples married on the weekend, saying same-sex partners don't fit the country's legal definition of marriage.
``A same-sex marriage simply doesn't meet the definition and as such we're not going to be certifying it,'' Consumer Minister Bob Runciman said yesterday.
[body of story deleted]
Meanwhile, Erika Kubassek, 57, of Cambridge, will appear in a Toronto court Feb. 16 to answer a charge of assault laid during a protest at the church where the double ceremony was performed Sunday.