This isn’t just about social conservatism. The infamous Fords of Toronto politics are crazy!
This time it’s not the rabidly right-wing Mayor Rob Ford proposing exiling convicted criminals. Or posing with Jon Latvis, a member of the neo-Nazi band RAHOWA (Racial Holy War). Or skipping Toronto’s Gay Pride parade for the second consecutive year.
It’s the Mayor’s councilor-brother Doug’s daughter, Krista, a former captain of Toronto’s short-lived lingerie football team. This is what she advises women to do to avoid sexual assault: “Stay alert, walk tall, carry mace, take self-defence classes & don’t dress like a whore.”
Yes, “don’t dress like whore!”
Alice Moran, a Toronto actor, comedian and one of the victims of the recent string of sexual assaults in the Annex district of Toronto, has responded with a personal Open Letter to Ms. Krista Ford, posted on her Facebook account.
Dear a lot of people, but specifically Ms. Krista Ford,
In advance I’d like to say I am sorry. This is not the ideal situation to first acquaint oneself with someone and I am mortified. Sorry! However, under the circumstance, I feel like you owe me a moment of your time, even though we’ve never meet.
The circumstance being you called me a whore.
I should clarify: I’m one of the victims of the recent string of sexual assaults in the Annex. ‘Sup? It’s nice to make you acquaintance.
So, you’ve called me a whore. Here we are. This is awkward now, isn’t it? You’re probably wondering if I’m going to challenge you on having been a member of Lingerie League. I’m not, because I’d never slut-shame another woman. I believe you have a right to your body and regardless of how you do or don’t dress it I believe you have a right to respect and personal security. I guess that’s the key difference in our thinking. You could wear a t-shirt that says “I’m literally asking for it” and I’d still advocate for your security.
That’s what I’m asking for this brief moment of your day, for your edification. You’re a woman and you should know that your body is yours and yours alone. No matter how you dress it, you have a right – an actual Charter of Rights and Freedom right – to not be sexually assaulted. You are entitled to life, liberty and the security of person. Welcome to Canada – you live here! If you weren’t aware of your Charter rights, other Canadian things you may have missed out on are double-doubles, good maple syrup, and Beachcombers*, so check that shit out.
For the record, I was sexually assaulted while wearing a knee-length polka-dot dress. The last time I wore that dress, it was to Easter dinner at my Gran’s, where I’m fairly certain I could make little to no money whoring.
With due repect / sorry,
Alice Moran
Canadian / Comedian / Beachcombers Enthusiast
Still, what happened here? Is it that Krista was brought up by the most socially-conservative Conservatives in Canada? Or did she catch the same male-chauvinist bug that caused a Toronto Police officer to advise a group of York University students not to dress “like sluts” to avoid getting raped? The bigoted utterance ignited “Slutwalk”, the hugely-successful worldwide progressive movement against bigotry, and for sexual liberation.
Photo: Toronto Life
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