Party politics

>> City hall may finally be getting behind BBCM

by DOMINIQUE RITTER

Montreal city hall has an opinion about how you shake your ass. City officials clearly favour the relatively sedentary behind, that occasionally shifts in its seat at a corporate brunch, although it has no strong objections to a bottom performing a staid grind or a gentle waltz. What the bureaucrats at Montreal HQ seem to take issue with, however, is a rapidly gyrating derrière moving to the rhythm of an electronic beat.

The politics of partying have dogged BBCM (Bad Boys Club of Montreal) Foundation since its inception 12 years ago. Their Black & Blue event receives funding from the federal government, the provincial government and Tourisme Montréal (which is not affiliated with city hall). But because of how city bureaucrats have defined the Black & Blue, until now it and the BBCM’s nine other annual events haven’t received any funding support from the city.

However, last Friday, the city announced that it would, for the first time, place a $5,000 ad in the program for the organization’s Black & Blue event. And on Monday, according to Robert Vézina, president and co-founder the BBCM, the city said it will also “re-re-reconsider” their application for funding.

Originally conceived as a modest party to raise money for HIV/AIDS and community initiatives, the BBCM’s Black & Blue has become one of the largest gay festivities in the world, attracting over 15,000 to its main event—a party at the Olympic Stadium—and another 60,000 to its various other parties and cultural exhibitions held over the course of the October week-long event. Thus far, as one of the largest tourist attractions in the province it has donated close to $1-million to various charities.

Vézina is upset with the city on three counts: the total absence of funding, the $70,000 annual bill he’s presented with for police presence and the refusal, until last week, by the city to place an ad in the Black & Blue program.

“They use all kinds of excuses not to support us. It’s ridiculous,” says Vézina. “Is it because it’s a gay event?”

“I’ve never seen any attitude or information or declaration of any kind indicating prejudice,” says councillor Richard Théoret, who is involved in planning security for the Black & Blue. “If it was a group of heterosexuals, it would be the same thing.”

The real problem, Théoret says, is that, “We don’t recognize it as a cultural event. It’s a rave.” And because it’s a rave, it must agree to pay for more cops.

“We know that there is organized crime and drug dealing in a large way, so we need to ensure security,” says Théoret, who insists the BBCM’s police bill was only about $30,000 last year. “If it was not a rave you can be sure the police would not be involved in this way. If it were another type of event maybe we wouldn’t have to worry about drug dealing and organized crime.”

In response to Théoret’s statements, Vézina vehemently insists the Black & Blue is not a rave and adds that, “Organized crime is everywhere. Drug dealers are everywhere. That’s not our problem. We have to be penalized because there’s crime in the city?” :