This, what's going on in downtown Toronto right now, is not my city. My city is alive. It has patios and jaywalking and musical theatre and street furniture and universities and sports and amateur photography and people in business suits loitering in the sunny spots between the towers on their lunch hour and questionable individuals going about their questionable business unmolested.
Next week is Pride. That is my city. There's music and food and culture and dancing in the streets. The barricades will come down, uniformed police officers will trade their riot gear for rainbow beads, and all will be right with the world.
Apparently the G20 is supposed to showcase us to the world, but the police state is not what we want to showcase. Pride is what we do want to showcase. It's our best selves, especially when contrasted with this weekend's lockdown.
Therefore, the people in charge of Toronto tourism should offer to comp the hotel room for any members of the media who choose to extend their stay through Pride week. Then they can see what we're actually proud to showcase to the world.
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