'I don't think we should be supporting sexuality'

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The city shouldn't be funding sexuality.

And that's exactly what council is doing by voting to award a $105,000 grant to the organization that runs PRIDE week here, Ward 2 Etobicoke North Councillor Rob Ford said Thursday.

"I don't think we should be supporting sexuality and that's where this money is going. That's what we're supporting here, madam chair," Ford said Thursday during a speech in council chambers, which prompted an outburst of laughter amongst his colleagues.

"I don't believe we should be spending taxpayers' money supporting your sexuality. If you're gay great. If you're not gay, that's great too. That's your prerogative."

Ford continued saying, "Do we have a straight parade? Do we have a heterosexual parade? Do we fund that? No, so I don't know why we're funding other things like that.

"I just disagree that we should be funding someone's sexuality and that's what this comes down to and I think it's absolutely wrong. And I don't think we should be spending $100,000 on this. I think it's absolutely wrong. And that's why I'm not supporting this," he said.

The grant for PRIDE Toronto is allocated through the Major Cultural Organizations Grant Program.

The motion to approve the funding was passed in a 36-2 vote.

Ford and Ward 39 Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Mike Del Grande voted in the negative.