[Excerpt]
“In a race where one frontrunner is openly gay but playing it straightedged and another is a loudmouthed right winger, performance artist Keith Cole’s lifelong strategy of getting literal about pissing contests makes him a surprising vehicle for a community”
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“Mayoral candidate Keith Cole used to perform at the Fringe Festival; then he became a fringe candidate. A long-established performance artist, filmmaker and host of the Keith Cole Experience at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (his next show is July 9), Cole not only leads the charge for the LGBT community in this election, but he’s reaching out to the city’s drinking cohort, too.”
I must decline the offer to host PRIDE’s 2010 ALTERNA – QUEER stage on Saturday July 3rd, 2010, South Stage. It is with great sadness that I must say NO to host one of PRIDE’s best music venues due to Censorship and complete ignorance and respect for individuals right to Freedom of Speech by PRIDE.
I love Alterna – Queer. It is and has been one of the best stages at PRIDE for years. The music, the people, the vibe and the bands have been great in the past and 2010 has a great line up of talent indeed, but PRIDE’s decision to dictate censorship and prevent freedom of speech leaves me with no choice – I must decline PRIDE’s offer to host this event. As a human, an artist, a gay and a 2010 Toronto Mayoral Candidate I cannot nor will I ever support an organization that acts as censors and denies people freedom of speech.
PRIDE has made a dangerous and sickening decision. PRIDE now has censorship mechanisms in place and freedom of speech has been challenged today and for the future. Any individual, any group, any person is now at risk at being censored by PRIDE and denied freedom of speech – who or what will be next? A group? An individual? An artist? A band? An idea? A painting? A book? A body-part? A name? A memory? A thought? A drag queen? A dyke? A fag? It could be anyone or anything next. We, the queer community, are the major stakeholders in PRIDE – not governments, corporations, banks, condo developments or beer companies etc… We are what made PRIDE and we will continue to define our PRIDE.
PRIDE will happen with or without government / corporate sponsorship. We will march, gather, protest, party, celebrate and keep on fighting the good fight. Free speech is worth fighting for and censorship must be stopped no matter what the price.
The community will not forget this terrible decision made by PRIDE.
I love the event Alterna – Queer and I love the music but I love freedom of speech and I can never, ever support censorship.
Sent with a Proud, Free & Uncensored Voice,
Keith Cole
On Xtra.ca: Keith Cole adds colour to electoral reform debate
Marcus McCann / Toronto / Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Better Ballots is hosting a mayoral forum on June 1st! After confirming the top six front runners, we hosted an online poll to choose two more candidates. After three rounds of voting (see results:1,2,3) voters chose Rocco Achampong and Keith Cole as our candidates. Our confirmed line-up for June 1st is Joe Pantalone, George Smitherman, Giorgio Mammoliti, Keith Cole, Rob Ford, Rocco Achampong, Rocco Rossi and Sarah Thomson. We’re proud to be the first debate in the 2010 election that has broadened the list of candidates to allow voters to hear from more voices and to better reflect the broad diversity that Toronto cherishes. We look forward to hear what each candidate has to say about electoral reform and how we can make elections in Toronto more inclusive, participatory, diverse and fair. More details coming soon! |
Better Ballots is hosting a mayoral forum on June 1st.
They have six confirmed candidates attending and would like to invite two more.
Please go to http://www.betterballots.to/mayor_vote.htm
and vote for KEITH COLE.
I’m doing really, really, really unbelievably well right now. It’s actually true. And actually this could actually happen. So we want a change in this city, ladies and gentlemen. Just stand by because this could actually fuckin’ happen.
Now, The Diaper Toss on Mother’s Day was unbelievable. Now I just want everybody to know this one thing. The CBC called me on Monday, like after the diaper toss, and they were like, “Well there was only like 12 or 14 people at The Diaper Toss. Like how successful can that be. Like you’re talkin’ shit.” I was like, “I don’t talk shit and I don’t talk trash and I don’t talk snap. I talk truth, because you know what? I’m going to be the mayor.”,
And you know what? There was only like 12 or 14 people at The Last Supper 2000 years ago, and we still talk about it. The Last Supper. And you know what? There was only going to be about 12 or 14 people at The Diaper Toss; but you know what? It was miraculous. … The Diaper Toss was unbelievable. So I just want everyone to know that at the CBC they were like, “Whatever,” and you know what? “Whatever to you,” like, The Last Supper was amazing, and so was The Diaper Toss.
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… Transit is unbelievably important … but so it the arts … and this whole thing with PRIDE that’s going on right now … trying to censor everything and we’re being cut. We have to fight and if you’re gay, if you’re lesbian and if you’re queer, we have to fight and fight and fight and never give up. And everybody thinks that this never can happen because this is Toronto 2010 but you know what, everybody is against us so we have to just keep fighting and keep fighting and never, ever, ever give up.
And there will be greenery in Yonge Dundas Square. There will be greenery. It’s not going to happen in 2 months. It’s not going to happen in 3 months; but there will be greenery in Yonge Dundas Square. So let’s keep fighting. And let’s keep hoping for queer rights, women’s rights, and for environmental rights, and let’s just keep going.
Media Release: April 26th, 2010 * Please add to all listings / announcements
Media Contact: Keith Cole 416-944-0077 / keithcole@sympatico.ca
“The Keith Cole Experience”
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Tallulah’s Cabaret
Friday May 14th, 2010
MILF DIAPER TOSS AWARENESS MONTH
Keith Cole.
When you hear the name or the voice, see the face or the body, what do you think?
Tough guy? Sex symbol? Mayor of Toronto? You Bet. Election Day is Monday October 25th, 2010. VOTE! Keith Cole for Mayor. Get Over It. The next ‘Experience’ is Friday May 14th, 2010 and it is gonna be fun!
Although everyone knows that what is on the outside is what really counts, get to know the inside of Keith Cole when he unleashes the next installment of his dazzling, star studded show, “The Keith Cole Experience,” featuring a delicious selection of Toronto’s most fabulous performers and a few slices of his own life with sexy results guaranteed. Always the 2nd Friday of the month, “The Keith Cole Experience” features some of Keith Cole’s favourite things and to celebrate the recent announcement of his intention to be the next Mayor of Toronto “The Keith Cole Experience” will expand its horizons and bring adoring fans even more fabulous entertainment, wacky tales from his Official Campaign Headquarters in St. Jamestown and special reports from The Mayoral Campaign Trail as he seeks victory in his quest to be Mayor of The City of Toronto in 2010.
“The Keith Cole Experience” MILF DIAPER TOSS AWARENESS MONTH features performances from porn star breakout sensation Ryan Russell, loud and proud Revenge Pregnancy, a total blast with Donnarama, Toronto’s newest musical wonder LIGHT FIRES and the sultry Sauci Calla Horra performs with ‘it’ gal Tanya Cheex from SKIN TIGHT OUTTA SIGHT fame.
***** A MILF Diaper Toss will be held at Yonge / Dundas Square – in protest of the lack of greenery in the dreadful public square known as “Yonge / Dundas Square” – Mother’s Day 2010 – Sunday May 9th at 11am. All MILF’s and MILF supporters are welcome to join us as we take back the square and demand greenery in that concrete bowl of advertising and ugliness! A child & family friendly FREE event. Details to follow soon.
“The Keith Cole Experience”
MILF DIAPER TOSS AWARENESS MONTH
Friday May 14th, 2010
Doors: 10:30pm Showtime: 11:15pm sharp!
Tallulah’s Cabaret, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street
Featuring: Ryan Russell, Revenge Pregnancy, Donnarama, LIGHT FIRES,
Sauci Calla Horra & Tanya Cheex DJ K-Tel and so much more!
$8.00
http://www.keithcole.ca
Download this pdf to read a piece Keith wrote on the mayor on page #9 of the pdf file / online magazine.