Stephen Harper, no friend of Gay Pride

[marmar]

Globe & Mail:



Pride Toronto denied federal funding
Received $400,000 in 2009, but not on this year’s recipient list

James Bradshaw
From Friday's Globe and Mail Published on Friday, May. 07, 2010 10:40PM EDT


Canada’s Largest Ribfest, the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival and Lethbridge’s Whoop-Up Days are among nearly 50 organizations receiving funding this year through the federal Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP). Pride Toronto is not.

Organizers for the week-long celebration hosted by the gay community applied for $600,000 after receiving $400,000 in 2009, but the list of recipients released Friday has dashed those hopes.

“I find it strange – the criteria hasn’t changed,” said Tracey Sandilands, Pride Toronto’s executive director. “It seems a message to the community that queer arts and culture is not worthy of investment.”

Montreal’s annual gay festival, Divers/Cité, was also absent from the list, but it was not immediately clear whether it applied in 2010. A 2009 application was denied.

The government created the two-year, $100-million MTEP in 2009 to help festivals and other events boost their profile and weather the recession. Industry Minister Tony Clement said he wanted to spread funds more broadly across smaller cities, towns and festivals this year after Toronto and Montreal absorbed “the lion’s share” of last year’s dollars. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/pride-toronto-denied-federal-funding/article1561360/