Additional groups, including the Liberal Party of Canada, have chosen not to participate in events organized by Capital Pride in Ottawa this year, in response to a pro-Palestinian statement the organization released earlier this month.
On August 6, Capital Pride released a letter expressing its “concern about the rising tide of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia” in Canada. Organizers condemned both the October 7 terrorist attack and the “endless and brutal campaign in Gaza” that is causing the deaths of “innocent Palestinians – many of whom have friends, family and loved ones in our communities.”
Capital Pride also made four commitments: being included on the Palestinian National BDS Committee's boycott list, hosting a “Queer Arab Showcase” during the festival, referring to the “ongoing genocide” in certain speeches, and calling for a permanent ceasefire.
Other groups withdraw
On Monday, the Liberal Party of Canada told CBC in an email that it would not participate in Capital Pride events this year.
“The Liberal Party has a proud history of standing up for the rights of 2SLGBTQI+, and we will remain steadfast in our fight for a more equal and inclusive Canada for all,” a spokesperson wrote.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has participated in the Capital Pride Parade in Ottawa in recent years. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who announced last week that he would not attend any Capital Pride events, told CBC that he agreed with the Liberal Party's decision.
The Public Service Pride Network (PSPN) told CBC via email that it will not participate in the Pride parade this year because it wants to “focus on inclusive, safe and people-centered events that celebrate our pride in our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.”
And the Montfort Hospital wrote in a French-language statement that it had also decided not to take part in the parade, which would have been the hospital's first this year.
“We couldn't wait to participate in the Pride parade,” wrote Dominic Giroux, President and CEO of Montfort. “However, given recent developments, we are postponing our participation to a future edition.”
The French Catholic school board, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE), has also decided not to take part in the parade after having participated in it for the past six years.
“Participation in this parade in the current context could send a message that runs counter to our principles and our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion,” a spokesperson wrote.
Instead, they organize their own events
Many of the groups that have withdrawn from events organized by Capital Pride said they plan to host their own events instead.
The most recent groups to drop out include the Liberal Party of Canada and the PSPN, which have promised to hold their own events. CHEO, the children's hospital in Ottawa in eastern Ontario, also announced it would hold its own events after dropping out last week.
When the Ottawa Hospital opted out, it wrote to CBC that it would “continue to have conversations” with its 2SLGBTQ+ community about other ways to “support and celebrate” them throughout the year.
The mayor recently told CBC that while he will not attend Capital Pride events, he will still attend Pride events organized by the City of Ottawa. Sutcliffe attended a Pride flag-raising ceremony in Stittsville last week that was not organized by Capital Pride.
The Capital Pride Parade is scheduled for Sunday, August 25th.