‘Let Russia do what they want’: Rob Ford opposes rainbow flag flying at Toronto City Hall

As the Olympics officially got underway in Sochi, Russia on Friday, a storm began brewing back in Canada over a movement to protest the host country's anti-homosexual laws.

While several Canadian cities chose to fly rainbow flags outside their city halls, to show support for Russia's homosexual community and protest recently-passed laws criminalizing homosexual "propaganda," Toronto Mayor Rob Ford reportedly demand city officials strip down its rainbow flag just moments after it was hung at Nathan Phillips Square.

"This is about being patriotic to your country, this is not about someone's sexual preference. No, I do not agree with putting out a rainbow flag," Ford told reporters at city hall. He later added, “Let Russia do what they want.”

CP24's Katie Simpson posted on Twitter that Ford opposed the move and was requesting city staff remove the flag, because he felt the Olympics were not about sexual preference.

The Toronto Star's Daniel Dale further reported that Ford hung a Canadian flag from his office window in protest. Because apparently you can be patriotic or support gay rights. But you can’t be both.

The move comes just days after Ford stirred controversy by again turning his back on Toronto's LGBTQ community and stating he would not attend the city's Pride parade, even though Toronto is hosting North America’s first World Pride Festival this June.

“I’m not going to go to the Pride parade. I’ve never gone to a Pride parade. I’m not going to change the way I am,” Ford said during a mayoral candidate's meeting on Wednesday.

Meantime, several other cities have hung their own rainbow flags in protest. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said on Twitter that the Pride flag would hang until the end of the Olympics.

When told by a Twitter user that the move had lost Watson his vote, Watson replied that "if you have that point of view, I really don't want your vote." Other Pride flags are hanging outside city halls in Vancouver, Whistler, Montreal and St. John's. On Friday, Edmonton joined the cause and hung its own flag.

Thankfully, many Toronto city councillors disagree with Ford and support the rainbow flag.

Russia's laws against homosexual "propaganda" stirred significant controversy ahead of the Opening Ceremony. At least four gay rights activists were arrested in the country on the first day of the Olympics alone.

The idea that one can either choose to oppose the atrocity or support Canada's Olympic team is, at best, dull-witted, thick-headed and wrong.

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