Gay Pride and Apartheid

People love a spectacle, the more garishly outrageous, the more attractive it seems. Crowds come out in their numbers to witness colourful displays and peoples' frisky manoeuvres. Risque overtones make it all the more inviting. And since it is so generally accepted that people who are gay, transgendered, androgynous or whatever are just as equally endowed as human beings in our society as any other, it is seen as a celebration of acceptance.



Still, it's not the kind of 'let-loose' celebrating that everyone enjoys. Yet it's obvious that enough people look forward to an event that allows people to act out, be as provocative as they wish, and nothing they do that might seem offensive to some under other circumstances is seen as anything other, during Gay Pride Parade as good, clean fun. Except, of course, it isn't, always. Good, clean fun, that is.

So those who enjoy the opportunity get out there and enjoy it. Others consider it irrelevant and wish no part of it, and that's fair enough. But of course this is a matter of social mores, personal taste, of acceptance of stretching the boundaries to reflect the bumptious adolescence that dwells in the spirited exhibitionism of those who consider themselves liberated from most of society's constraints.

Yet into all this good, clean fun politics raises its head. Oh, not the kind of social politics that gays had for so long contended with that held their alternate gender roles and sexuality to be forbidden and sinful. Not the kind of aversion that led to being outcast from society, and much, much worse; homophobic violence that left isolation and death in its wake.

This is another kind of politics, violent in thought and intent, expressed by Queers Against Israeli Apartheid who have tarnished the colourful event by painting Israel in the colours gays were painted before societal acceptance. The controversial group's turning of this event attended by a whopping number of Torontonians and tourists into a political statement against Israel goes beyond offensive.

That taxpayers of the city pay for the Gay Pride Parade, handing over $128,000 directly to organizers for expenses incurred, an additional $250,000 picked up by the city for policing and clean-up, adds an additional level of offence. So it makes a kind of distorted, inane and insane sense that among the lesbians carrying signs reading "Boycott Israeli Products", and "Israeli Apartheid", the Raelians should also be present with their message.

That of restoring the ancient symbol used in Eastern cultures to reflect eternity, the Swastika. The symbol that was irremediably destroyed of any positive connotations with its adoption by the Nazis in Germany now represents a mission for the International Raelian Movement. Who are working mightily to "reclaim" the swastika through an event they have named World Swastika Rehabilitation Day.

The swastika is to be restored to its original purpose, to express peace and harmony.

The Raelians who believe in an extraterrestrial creation of humanity on Earth have symbolically linked the Swastika with the Star of David. That linkage, 1939 to 1945, almost demolished a Jewish presence on this planet. Easily forgotten and overlooked: gays and lesbians who are able to live freely and legally marry in Israel, while they are hounded and oppressed and even killed in Arab states, liken Israel to a fascist state.

That too speaks to the infinity of time and events repeating themselves ad infinitum.