Toronto gay rights protesters march against G20
Gay rights activists stormed the streets of downtown Toronto yesterday ahead of this week’s G20 summit, demanding that world leaders seriously address LGBT issues. It was described by one protester as “a carnival of resistance”.
There were over 100 protestors, some in full carnival costumes and grass skirts. As they danced through the streets they chanted “We’re queer, we’re fabulous, we’re against the G20” and “My gender is not illegal” in response to what they claimed are subtle erosions in LGBT and women’s rights.
One marcher sported a papier-mache mask of Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper, who has come under fire for his maternal health initiative, which does not include abortion.
They protestors were watched closely by over 20 policemen and at least one protestor was wrestled to the ground.
The G20 summit will take place 25-26 June in a heavily fortified Toronto. The city is spending one billion Canadian dollars on secuirty. A spokesman for the Toronto Community Mobilization Network called the G8 and G20 illegitimate bodies.
He added that they were non-representative of the gay and lesbain communities, and should be abolished.
