The Spirit of the Gay Community

In 1810, a woman in Toronto reported she was raped and, in the tussle, had scratched the rapist's genitalia. The magistrate, Alexander Wood, lined up suspects and demanded they drop their pants so he could inspect them. When the community heard, he was branded a "molly" (a homosexual). He left town to avoid prosecution for abusing his position. For whatever reason (probably because he was able to see a lot of male privates), he has become a hero to Toronto's gay community, and the "incident is commemorated . . . with a bronze plaque depicting a man's rear end with his pants around his knees, and Wood's outstretched hand in mid-examination."

Go here for a picture (it's not appropriate for this site). Link.

Toronto citizens are upset with the graphic plaque, which is located in a family-friendly tourist district. And the gays in the community?

[D]enizens of Toronto's centrally located and often irreverent gay neighborhood – the home of the city's hugely popular annual gay pride celebrations – say the sculpture is not offensive and fits with the spirit of the community.

It was a Michael Jackson-ish incident, but it fits with "the spirit of the gay community." Let's cogitate on that one for awhile.