Roger-Luc Chayer
Following the publication in the latest edition of Gay Globe Magazine (# 129 with Elizabeth Montgomery on the cover) of an article on the effacement of gay colors at the corner of Ste-Catherine East and Champlain Streets, we ended our article in mentioning that we were waiting for comments from the Borough to follow up. Well here is this follow-up: NOW!
Before publishing, I had contacted the Mayor of Montréal and Mayor of Ville-Marie borough (Village) directly to ask her to comment on the situation via an email dated August 23rd. No answer. On the same day, I wrote to Councilor Robert Beaudry, Sector Manager, to also ask for his comments, to discover that the email address of Gay Globe seemed to have been blocked. I then used our backup address on Gmail, no response. The same day again, I sent an email via the form of the Ville-Marie borough web page to ask them to comment. I received an acknowledgment, but no response thereafter. On November 29, I returned an email to the borough asking them why it took so long to answer. On December 5, I received an email informing me that « The above file has been relaunched to the » COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION VILLE-MARIE « so that a resource person can respond as soon as possible. »
Since, NOW! This simple question of gay colors erased from a street in the Village highlights a terrible contempt for what the Gay Globe Group represents and especially for its readers. When we talk to the public authorities, it is obviously not in our own name, but in the name of those who read us and ask the same questions. To despise the media that dare question the emperors and other political clowns who are elected and who do not care what we represent after their victory is one of the most undemocratic acts possible. Remember also, during the last election campaign, his refusal to grant any interview to Gay Globe. The news shows us for some months that the popularity of the mayor Plante is in freefall. On February 7, 2018, an Ipsos poll published by the newspaper La Presse concluded that 60% of Montrealers were dissatisfied with the policies of Mayor Plante whereas on November 3, 2018, a Léger-Journal de Montréal survey concluded that 44% of Montrealers already wanted a change at the head of the City of Montreal, and this time, 68% of Montrealers were dissatisfied with his work at the City.
What Montrealers see, and this is what led to the defeat of former mayor Denis Coderre, is that the arrogance of politicians, once elected, has no limit. One only has to see what happens in France with the « yellow vests » to understand that sometimes, the popular ras-le-bol is the direct consequence of the behavior of our elected officials. It is certainly not too late for her to regain control and realize that the media have responsibilities and obligations that may not always please. If it does not change soon, it may crash in 2021!