Jane Farrow, Canadian author, broadcaster and executive director ofJane's Walk, has rejected an offer to be Honoured Dyke at this year's Pride Parade.

In anopen letterto Tracey Sandilands, executive director of Pride Toronto, Farrow cites censorship of the words "Israeli Apartheid" at this year's festivities as the reason for her decision.

"For me, the issue at hand is not one of left or right, corporate or anti-corporate, or even who's politically right or wrong in the Middle East," writes Farrow. "It simply comes down to protecting the right to free speech - fiercely, as it were."

I agree that free speech is a right that certainly needs to be protected. But the issue becomes more complicated when city dollars are paying for an event. Is the city effectively endorsing a political message if it chooses to provide funding without these restrictions?