Coun. John-Paul Danko has apologized for a social-media post that he says was “beneath the dignity” of his office.
John Rennison, Hamilton Spectator file photo
Jelena Vermilion, executive director of Sex Workers Action Program, was one of this year’s honourees at the YWCA Hamilton’s Women of Distinction Awards gala.
A Hamilton city councillor has apologized for a social-media post that referred to two speakers at the YWCA’s recent awards gala as “toddlers with a microphone.”
“I posted something that I immediately removed and apologized for and, as far as I’m concerned, the matter’s over,” Coun. John-Paul Danko told The Spectator.
Danko’s post to the platform X (Twitter) was in response to a CBC Hamilton story about a volunteer group’s decision to stop YWCA fundraising efforts after the group felt “disheartened and unwelcome” during the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards gala on March 7.
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In accepting her award, Jelena Vermilion, who is executive director of the Sex Workers Action Program (SWAP), voiced solidarity for transgender people, people who use drugs and sex workers. She also condemned police violence.
“I am not ashamed to be transgender. I am not ashamed to sell sex to survive or make money. I am not ashamed to stand in front of you and tell you my life is valuable, regardless of the work that I do, regardless of the work that any of you do … except maybe policing, because that’s my personal opinion.”
In his post, Danko didn’t mention names but referenced “two recipients that went out of their way to spit in the face of those in attendance.” He added: “While I dismiss them as ungrateful, self-righteous, toddlers with a microphone, I’ll continue supporting (YWCA Hamilton), but certainly won’t be at future events either.”
Those remarks were “beneath the dignity of my office,” Danko wrote in a followup post. “I sincerely apologize and will strive to do better in future.”
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Vermilion replied on X: “Resignation is the most sincere form of apology.”
In an interview, she characterized Danko’s “toddlers with a microphone” jab as “very infantile.”
“It felt like being back in high school when I accomplished something and someone is just so hung up by it that they have to make a criticism.”
Jelena Vermilion, executive director of Sex Workers Action Program, was one of this year’s honourees at the YWCA Hamilton’s Women of Distinction Awards gala.
John Rennison, Hamilton Spectator file photo
Vermilion added, “just a moment of self-reflection could have prevented a lot of harm.”
When asked about the targets of his X remarks, Danko only said he was “referring to a couple of people” who spoke at the gala. “Again, it’s over and done with.”
In addition to Vermilion’s pushback, the deleted post has also sparked a complaint to city council by the Equity Network, which in an unsigned email to The Spectator described itself as a “community advocacy group with members across Hamilton.” The complaint to council raises “deep concern about the public conduct” of Danko and points to city politicians’ code of conduct.
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It also flags a post Danko made about a Ward 8 school board candidate during the October 2022 election, which he also deleted. Among those running in Ward 8 was Ahona Mehdi, another YWCA award recipient who spoke at the gala and previously levelled allegations of racism against trustees.
“I realized that after that was posted, that perhaps it was not entirely appropriate so for the same reason,” said Danko, whose wife, Dawn, is Ward 7 trustee and former board chair.
Politicians make social-media posts that are “regrettable,” he said, but also suggested they should be able to share their opinions.
“I think we have to be careful that we’re not inadvertently censoring the personal opinions of elected officials. I mean we’re human, too. We have opinions about things that happen in the community.”
Acting city clerk Janet Pilon told The Spectator that when correspondence to council makes conduct allegations, the sender is given directions on how to file a complaint with the city’s integrity commissioner.
