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Picture used without consent for ‘hate campaign’
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NXNE finds new home in port lands
Danforth East parents B.J. Barone and Frankie Nelson’s photo of their son’s birth (left) has been used in anti-gay propaganda in Italy (above) as well as in Ireland.
Danforth parents ‘shocked’ as photo of son’s birth used in anti-gay propaganda jOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com Danforth East residents B.J. Barone and Frankie Nelson say they are devastated and appalled that an image from one of the most special times of their lives is being used to spread hate and intolerance. The image in question, which went viral on social media when it was posted less than two years ago, was snapped moments after the birth of the same-sex couple’s son, Milo. The photo, taken by photog-
rapher Lindsay Foster, depicts Barone and Nelson embracing their newborn son for the first time after he was delivered by a gestational surrogate. About three weeks ago, Barone received a message from a cousin in Italy informing him the photo is being used illegally by that country’s conservative Fratelli d’Italia-Alleanza Nazionale political party in an anti-gay parenthood/antisurrogacy poster that reads ‘He will never say Mother. Defend the right of a child’. “We were shocked and upset.
That photo was just a moment of pure joy and love and acceptance, but now we’re now the poster children for their hate campaign,” Barone said during an interview late last week. The couple also learned via Twitter that the picture has also been used without consent by independent Irish politician Mary Fitzgibbons to push her platform against surrogacy for gay parents in the Feb. 26 general election. The image has since been removed, but Barone and Nelson, who said they’re still
pursuing legal action, said it continues to be used indirectly as a link. Late last week, Gay.it, a leading site in Italy for news and articles on lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queen (LGBTQ) issues, published an article about the Fratelli d’Italia’s usage of Barone and Nelson’s image. Within two days, the couple said they received at least 10 offers of legal assistance. They’ve also received word the photo has been removed since >>>couple, page 8
The 22nd annual edition of the North by North East (NXNE) Music Festival and Conference is looking to the port lands for its new home. Organizers of the popular arts and music event, which will run from June 15 to 19, have big plans to host a two-day ticketed festival on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 at the 50-acre former brownfield site at 155 Cherry St. at Commissioners Street. A number of after-parties are also in the works for nearby bars and venues. Michael Hollett, NXNE’s president and managing director, said the time had come for the festival, which is dedicated to new and upcoming music, to have its own ticketed venue space. Having attended numerous festivals and large-scale events over the years, Hollett said he saw a desire from festival-goers to have an immersive experience. “The music is obviously very important, but so is the setting,” >>>north, page 2