Words of Protest Open a Can of Worms for Pride Toronto XXX

The directors of Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade announced that they’ve decided to prohibit the phrase “Israeli Apartheid” from this year’s parade.

The decision was aimed at the group, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) who have taken part in the annual event since 2007. Members of QuAIA can still participate; they are just not allowed to use the phrase “Israeli Apartheid”.

Toronto Pride board members say they made their decision after hearing "overwhelming" responses that most participants felt "unsafe" with the term.

In response to the organization banning the phrase, this year’s grand marshal of the parade has resigned, and this year’s 'honoured dyke' recipient, Jane Farrow, and 18 other recipients of awards over the past 10 years have returned them.

Apartheid was a political system in South Africa in which people were divided into racial groups and kept apart by law.

Some people think Israeli government action is similar. For example, the Israeli West Bank barrier, which separates Israelis from Palestinians, has been constructed by the State of Israel. 

Some people call this barrier “"jidar al-fasl al-'unsuri", which roughly translated, means “Apartheid Wall”. It has become a cause for many protestors.

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