Rob Ford sits as Toronto city hall gives ovations to World Pride organizers

Toronto councillors expressed outrage on Wednesday after Toronto Mayor Rob Ford intentionally slighted World Pride organizers at city hall, refusing stand for two separate ovations while councillors and city staff celebrated the successful international festival.

According to reporters and several councillors, Ford declined to stand while everyone else in the council chamber gave two ovations, sitting stoically in his chair until the congratulations had concluded.

Councillors Josh Matlow and Mike Layton both noted the slight in messages posted to Twitter.

Following the ovation, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly presented openly gay Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam with special recognition for her role in the World Pride event. Council and city staff gave Wong-Tam a standing ovation, with Ford again declining to participate. This time it was Coun. Sarah Doucette who registered her disgust.

The incident was further exacerbated when Wong-Tam requested Ford release his "hold" on a motion involving a homeless shelter for gay and lesbian youths. A hold is a procedural tool that allows a member of council to delay an item from passing through council. Ford declined. Ford returned from rehab last week claiming the visit had gone well and offered a general apology to those he offended through a months-long series of drug use and drunken stupors spotted by racist and sexist comments as well as homophobic slurs. In the few interviews Ford has offered since his return, Ford claimed his addiction to drugs and alcohol was to blame for his homophobic and racist behaviour. “I think that goes along with have this disease, it’s a chronical, medical condition that I never understood. You do things, you say things that aren’t just you,” Ford said in an interview with CBC News. The excuse was met with immediate derision, and many incredulously pointed to his history of voting against LGBTQ assistance, raging against pride flags at city hall and vocally opposing Toronto's annual Pride Parade. Ford's claim that addiction was responsible for his negative behaviour toward marginalized communities was again panned online after he refused to stand to congratulate Wong-Tam and World Pride organizers.

This all comes after the release of a new report suggesting Ford's stint at rehab did not go according to plan.

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According to the Toronto Star, several confidential sources have confirmed that Ford bullied and berated other patients seeking treatment at GreenStone rehab facility, was thrown out of group therapy sessions for being disruptive and may have even used drugs and alcohol during the stay. The newspaper could not confirm the latter allegations.

If Rob Ford's history of racist comments, prejudicial tendencies and arguably homophobic behaviour is all really caused by his drug and alcohol addiction, does this mean he's using again?