Living underground

We wish to respond to the letter by the members of Solidarity Across Borders [“No human beings are illegal,” June 9].

From reading that letter, one might have the impression that regularization (obtaining legal status) for people living without status in Canada is not a high priority for the Table de Concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI), the 140-member coalition of groups serving refugees and immigrants in Quebec. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The member groups of the TCRI have identified regularization as one of its top priorities for the coming year, and we recently took part in a national workshop of the Canadian Council for Refugees to create concrete proposals for widespread regularization, to be presented to the Canadian government.

In the past, we have worked actively with members of Solidarity Across Borders on a number of campaigns concerning individual deportations as well as collective issues, including the sanctuary movement and the successful regularization program for non-status Algerians.

The comment seized upon in their letter was simply a statement that the phenomenon of people living underground in Canada is not as widespread as it is in some other places, especially the United States. Indeed, according to estimates, on a per-capita basis, the U.S. has between 2.5 and 10 times the number of people living underground than we do. It is therefore not surprising that our member groups, who provide services to thousands of migrants each year, are not confronted with persons living underground on the same scale as community workers in the United States are. That does not make the issue any less serious, however, as we are still talking about as many as 400,000 vulnerable people living without status in Canada.

All in all, the TCRI and Solidarity Across Borders probably agree on about 95 per cent of things. Given the limited number of us working in solidarity with refugees and immigrants, we would like to stress what we have in common, rather than our few differences.

» Stephan Reichhold, Director, TCRI, and Rick Goldman, Refugee Protection Coordinator, TCRI

Lesbophobic gets
the strap

To the dude who called in the infantile rant about Dykes at the Black Eagle bar [Rant Line™, June 9], I want to thank you for providing my buddies and I a good laugh last weekend when your rant was read aloud at the Eagle by one of my best lady friends (who not only has huge tits but is straight, by the way, just to dismiss your presumption that only dykes frequent the Eagle).

You are a certifiable misogynistic, lesbophobic idiot who does not belong at the Eagle or anywhere in a democratic and free society, for that matter. When a woman—lesbian or straight—enters a very gay male space such as the Black Eagle, I salute her. She has to constantly face the possible wrath and scorn of bigots like yourself. She chooses to go to the Eagle in spite of assholes because she is a player, a leatherfolk, a fetishist, and she belongs there more than you do.

Unfortunately, because of people like you, women are only allowed on weekends and at the metaphorical back of the bus known as the back bar. She is not allowed to parade freely through the rest of the club, and if she needs to pee, she must do so quickly and discretely so as not to offend male patrons such as yourself.

Jesus H. Christ (to quote you), is this really 2005, or are we living in a freakin’ time warp?

I wish that the criteria for entering a gay bar was more than just having or not having a penis—that maybe having a brain, respect, tolerance and open-mindedness would be a pre-requisite so that idiots might be barred from entering. Do us all a favour and stay away from the Eagle or any other bar where you might be affronted by tits. You are an embarrassment to all gays who have fought long and hard battles for tolerance. Thank you, good-bye and good riddance!

—Ron Harris, Manager, Cuir Northbound Leather Fetish store

More chips on the block

Hi. I would like to recommend an old-time favourite for your Best Cheap Eats section in the Best of Montreal poll: Mommys Fish & Chips in Lachine (3135 Notre Dame—no relation to Mommy’s Fish & Chips in Verdun). It has been serving old-fashioned English-style fish and chips since 1972! Large portions, cheap prices... give it a try, it’s addictive!

» Isabelle Remy

Correction

In last week’s “Zooming In,” a photo from the movie The Mohawk Girls was labelled as Georgian Grapes and vice versa.

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