This is where, if I were petty, I'd call the Mayor a flip-flopper. But this is no day for name-calling.
 
Despite Rob Ford's continued resistance to playing any role in supporting Toronto's gay community, he stunned the crowd at City Hall today by showing up to read a declaration marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Onlookers welcomed the surprise with rousing applause.
 
Ford stood at the podium, flanked by beaming city councilors who normally would never be caught smiling in reaction to one of the Mayor's actions.

Ford stumbled through the reading of the declaration (clearly written for him). And he looked rather uncomfortable, wincing through each word. (Although the midday sun was probably to blame for that.)

But while his performance was far from graceful, his decision to show up was exactly that.
 
On a small scale, this day was about Ford finally recognizing he has a role to play at this city event. He may have been forced into showing up by his advisors, but it doesn't really matter.
 
Rob Ford - our Mayor - changed his mind. He did what all his foes on council had been badgering him to do. Undoubtedly, some will say he caved to political pressure. But a more mature analysis will conclude he adapted for the good of the city.
 
While his supporters will describe Ford as unwavering, the rest have chosen a more accurate word to describe his attitude: pigheaded. Unwavering is a term one can only use to describe a person who has the moral authority on his side. But reason and logic have so far tended to avoid Ford throughout his term.

Today, however, Ford became a part of something he was initially dead set against. Is it totally unreasonable to hope he might be capable of showing the same flexibility with a council that now has one less reason to dislike him?