Ottawa’s Pride parade was canceled after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the event. Get the full story and community response.
What was supposed to be a lively and joyous celebration of LGBTQ+ rights in Ottawa took a surprising turn on Sunday when pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the city’s annual Pride parade, forcing its cancellation.
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Queers for Palestine – Ottawa, a local activist group, organized the demonstration and organized a rally to coincide with the planned parade. Their goal was to raise awareness of what they say is the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to emphasize the value of intersectional solidarity between Palestinians and the LGBTQ+ community.
The procession, which was supposed to go by Parliament Hill and through downtown Ottawa, was halted by the protest.
The group in charge of organizing the event, Capital Pride, announced the cancellation in a statement just before 3 p.m., citing logistical issues brought on by the protest and public safety concerns.
LGBTQ+ solidarity
Within the LGBTQ+ community in Ottawa, the incident has reignited discussions, especially around the politics of inclusion and international solidarity. This issue has long been a source of tension. A number of advocacy organizations and elected officials decided not to attend Pride events last year after Capital Pride released a statement endorsing the Palestinian cause.
Some activists have become even more suspicious since that statement was later taken down from the organization’s website without providing a public explanation. A demonstrator is seen fervently calling on Capital Pride to once again adopt a strong position in favor of the Palestinian people in a video that is making the rounds on social media today. Political leaders who disassociated themselves from last year’s Pride events were also urged to issue public apologies by the speaker.
The cancellation disappointed Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who attended the parade on Sunday before it ended abruptly. In a public statement, Sutcliffe said, “It is extremely unfortunate that a group of activists decided to stop the parade.” “It’s sad that this year’s event had to end this way; Pride is a time to unite in celebration.”
Many community members have expressed support for incorporating more general social justice issues into Pride despite the disruption. However, some contend that these disturbances jeopardize the safe haven that Pride is intended to provide for underrepresented LGBTQ+ groups.
