[URBAN NOTE] "John Tory, councillors attend transgender flag-raising ceremony"

[rfmcdonald]

John Tory's attendance at an event of note to Toronto's GLBT communities, as reported by the Toronto Star's Jennifer Pagliaro, is a refreshing change from the Rob Ford era.

[F]acing biting winds on the podium roof of city hall, dozens including Mayor-elect John Tory gathered on Thursday afternoon to witness the raising of a flag in remembrance of transgender people lost to violence, suicide and who are still missing.

[. . .]

The significance of Tory’s attendance, despite not being the mayor quite yet, was not lost on organizers.

“I think it’s amazing that even before he’s had the privilege of being sworn in as the mayor of our city, that John Tory, the mayor-elect is here and we are so glad to see you,” said former MPP George Smitherman. “It’s a signal of better days ahead here in Toronto and at city hall.”

Pride and LGBTQ events have been contentious at city hall in recent years, with outgoing Mayor Rob Ford’s absence noted — including his refusal to march in the annual Pride parade — and his documented homophobic slurs criticized. Ford attended his first Pride Toronto event in June 2013, also a flag-raising. He had previously attended flag raisings against homophobia and transphobia.

“While I’m not yet the mayor of Toronto, I have been elected as the mayor of Toronto and I’m going to be the mayor of all the people,” Tory told reporters after the ceremony. “To me it is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to go to events like that.”