School trustees face backlash after asking Toronto to enforce public nudity law at Pride Parade

A motion requesting that Toronto enforce public nudity laws at the city's annual Pride Parade has generated quite the fuss, both online and off.

The parade is a huge event, attracting up to a million spectators and participants each year. Some of them like to let it all hang out, and that bothers some members of the Toronto District School Board.

Trustee Sam Sotiropoulos put forward a motion at the board's Wednesday meeting requesting the school district write to Toronto's mayor and council for clarification whether public nudity laws will be enforced at Pride events.

The request, supported by two other trustees, is based on the fact the school district usually has its own float in the parade. Sotiropoulos and his supporters believe overt displays of a gentleman's tackle are inappropriate in what's supposed to be a family-friendly event.

“It happens,” trustee Irene Atkinson told the Toronto Sun. “I've got a photograph of a man, full-frontal nudity.”

[ Related: Toronto Pride festival at the heart of Canada’s gay rights movement ]

The motion quickly generated a barrage of derision. Postmedia News commentator Lauren Strapagiel argued such public displays of nudity were an integral part of the Pride movement.

"Toronto’s Pride events were spurred on in the wake of bathhouse raids by Toronto police in the early ’80s," she wrote.

"Riots in what is now the Church-Wellesley Village in Toronto turned into unapologetic celebrations of sexuality. Pride did not begin, and does not exist, to make queer sexuality more palatable."

Toronto Pride co-chair Sean Hiller noted only a handful of participants indulge in displays of nudity.

“We do not police our events in terms of nudity but we do work very closely with the Toronto Police Service to ensure that everybody feels safe and welcome at the event itself,” Hillier told the Sun.

Hiller said he was disappointed by the motion.

“I don't know what the intents behind this motion are,” he said. “I would hope it's coming from a place that isn't homophobic, subtle or otherwise.”

[ Related: Fords on YouTube: Finally a venue for Doug Ford to rant about "buck naked men" all he wants ]

“I have no problem participating with Pride — it’s such a wonderful event that’s also part of our board’s social justice piece — but I cannot sign off to participating and promoting an event where the laws against public nudity are being flouted,” Sotiropoulos told the Toronto Star, adding he supported flying the rainbow flag at Toronto City Hall during the Sochi Winter Olympics.

“This is not Hanlan’s Point [the nude beach on Toronto Island] which has clear signs saying ‘Clothing Optional,’ We don’t have a disclaimer at the parade and this is supposed to be a family-friendly event.”

The request is bound to get a sympathetic reception from Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who's never attended a Pride event, and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, who's criticized parade organizers for allowing "buck naked men" to run along the street.

David Hains, writing on Torontist, said nudity at the parade is a bit of a hobby horse for Sotiropoulos, who he said worries about something called "homosexism," which he takes to mean adverse attitudes towards straight people by members of the gay community.

The school board should be dealing with more pressing issues, such as its students' declining test scores and finding ways to avoid the annual cash crunch that forces tough budgetary decisions each year, Hains wrote.

It appears as if one of Sotiropoulos former supporters may have agreed. CTV News reported Trustee Atkinson withdrawn her support for the motion, citing public pressure.

So, if you're taking your kids to a Pride Parade in June, you might want to warn them they may see something they wouldn't at the Santa Claus parade.