Full council support of Pride Week would be nice, organizers say

Organizers of Saskatoon's Gay Pride Festival say they are looking forward to the day when all city council members, and the mayor, throw their full support behind the event.

Eight of the 10 council members contributed about $100 each from their communications allowances for an advertisement expressing support for the festival.

"To have the city's councillors and mayor support the Pride Festival it just shows a good message to the people of Saskatoon," Brice Field, chair of the Saskatoon Diversity Network, told CBC News Tuesday.

Council member Eric Olauson said he did not contribute to the ad because of concern it would lead to more requests for similar endorsements.

"If I said yes to this organization how do I say no to the next one?" Olauson said. "It's a slippery slope."

Olauson said he might attend the festival.

"If I do have time absolutely I'll attend it and I encourage everybody to come out," he said.

Mayor Don Atchison said his office never buys ads in programs and he is not about to start.

"If you say 'Yes' to one how do you say 'No' to someone else? How do you say 'No' to the Filipinos? How do you say no to the children's hospital?" he said.

Atchison is not scheduled to participate in any of the events associated with the festival.

"I understand the scheduling conflicts," Field said. "[Atchison] is going to be out of town."

Field said, in time, the festival will become a noteworthy item on people's calendars and expects it will be an important event to attend.

No Saskatoon mayor has ever marched in the city's pride parade.

This year's parade is set for Saturday.