Rob Ford’s Ugly Attempt at Political Positioning over the Pride Flag

Rob Ford is scheming to position himself as the champion of homophobe’s hopes, writes Edward Keenan in the Grid. He argues that the demoted mayor, with an eye cocked on next fall’s election, is trying to lock up the 20% of Toronto voters who are outright haters. With this in mind, it’s clear why he started the flap over the Pride flag yesterday, demanding it be lowered at City Hall, only minutes after it was hoisted in solidarity with those targeted in Sochi. As of now, it’s still flying, and despite Ford’s stunt, I don’t think it will be brought down. Toronto is one of many world cities linking hands with LGBT Russians and LGBT athletes. But Ford, knowing he’s lost with cosmopolitan-minded voters, is putting his heft behind discrimination.