By Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

Councilor Pasternak along with a small group of local pro-Israel lobbyists are gathering votes to once again threaten Pride funding over QuAIA. It is likely that Pasternak or other councillors will raise a motion to defund Pride if QuAIA participates at the meeting on June 6th.

Please call and write to your councilors to urge them to support funding for the festival and free speech, and ask your friends to do the same. Below is a letter that can be used to help construct your own personal message.

To get contact info for your councillor, go here. When writing to your City Councillor, you must include your street address so they know you are a constituent who lives in their area – that way they know you can vote or not vote for them.

——

Dear Councillor,
It’s come to my attention that Councillor Pasternak is attempting to gather votes to once again threaten city funding for the Pride festival.

Our festival has always been open to political expression of many kinds. The LGBT movement is at its base a human rights movement, and we therefore have a responsibility to support the human rights of all, including Palestinians.

The City Manager’s report last year should lay to rest any concerns that Queers Against Israeli Apartheid is in any way a hate group. At any rate, QuAIA is one small contingent in a huge event. Unfounded accusations of antisemitism are being used by a vocal minority to try to suppress freedom of expression and to attack the queer community.

Please take a stand for free speech and human rights and vote for Pride funding.

I also urge you to watch QuAIA’s deputation video from last year to learn what the group actually stands for: http://vimeo.com/24222860

Thank you.

Sincerely

[name]
[address]