While I am not affiliated with Toronto Leather Pride or Heart of the Flag Productions, I appreciate what the organization does to setup events for the Leather community whether we identify as Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Queer, Pan or Straight.
It’s come to light that someone is stirring up shit towards the Lesbian and Trans community. It amazing that people cannot accept the building of a separate space for those who want it and need it, while there are still lots of spaces for us to come together as one. As I have always said, I support spaces where we can all meet separately and do our own thing, and also spaces where we can all come together.
As a gay man, I totally get that we all need our separate spaces, and I also support the fact that there is a wealth of spaces that are completely open to all of us. Is someone about to launch a lawsuit against bath houses because they are exclusive to men?
Obviously a group of people don’t get this. Whoever is trying to apply the “Anti-discrimination Act of Ontario” (Ontario Human Rights Code?) to this should be ashamed of themselves and truly does not understand or respect our differences.
To my Lesbian sisters and Trans brothers & sisters – I support you in the continued building of your community. If there is anything I can do to support you, please let me know.
Below is a link to the announcement posted at Toronto Leather Pride’s website:
http://torontoleatherpride.ca/2012/08/surge-women-and-trans-bar-night-important-update/
Press Release
Tuesday, August 01, 2012
Toronto, Ontario
For immediate release:
Important Update for the Surge Women and Trans Bar Night Event.
Earlier this week Heart of the Flag Federation Inc. (HOTF) received several email letters and an appeal from representatives from the pan/straight leather community regarding concerns over the upcoming Surge Women and Trans bar night.
The first time event, which is to be held on the Friday evening of the Toronto Leather Pride weekend at the Black Eagle, was planned to essentially give our Leather Dykes, Queer Women and Trans People the opportunity to celebrate Leather Pride in a safe environment within an actual leather/kink/fetish bar.
The common concern and theme within each of the letters we received surrounded the issue of segregation of the event in a closed area of the venue and that by hosting a closed party HOTF may then be in violation of the Anti-discrimination Act of Ontario.
As HOTF adheres to the anti-discrimination act we have decided, along with the Black Eagle, to avoid any perception of any violation of the act and will not use the curtain that the venue uses for its dress code nights to separate the evening’s two events. Therefore, the Surge Women and Trans event will now be held simultaneously as the Fetish Gear Party, will still take place in the second floor room and will now be open to everyone.
HOTF apologises for any and all inconvenience that this change in this event may cause and invites everyone to attend both parties as collective celebration of Leather Pride.
Your hosts for the combined event will be Lamamlani, – International Ms. Leather 2009, Tarna – BBT 2012/IMsBB 2012 and Alex Canning – MLT 2012. The demonstration by Lamalani will proceed as planned.
We hope that you will join as our guest at the Black Eagle Toronto that welcomes and supports the whole leather, kink and fetish community including Leather Dykes, Queer Women and the Trans People all year long, on Friday, August 10 starting at 10pm for both these events that equally celebrate the pride we all have in our community.