Montreal Pride chair resigns amid backlash for barring Jewish LGBTQ2+ group from parade
In a statement Monday, the organization said Bernard Truong informed the board of directors he was stepping down “for personal reasons.”
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The chairman of the board of Montreal Pride resigned Monday as the organization continued to face mounting criticism for banning a Jewish LGBTQ2+ group from its annual parade.
In a statement, the organization said Bernard Truong informed the board of directors he was stepping down “for personal reasons.” His resignation came as the group faced national backlash for excluding Ga’ava, a Jewish LGBTQ2+ organization, from the event.
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In response to his resignation, the board said it “quickly convened” to ensure a smooth transition and appointed Marlot Marleau as the new chair.
“This change within the board has no impact on the activities of the Montreal Pride Festival, which are currently underway,” the statement reads. “All teams, staff and volunteers remain deeply committed to delivering a unifying festival, true to its mission of amplifying the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and creating inclusive, safe and meaningful spaces.”
The organization insisted the leadership change was unrelated to the controversy over the barring of Ga’ava from the parade.
“No, Truong’s resignation is not related to that,” said Michael Grégoire from the festival’s press relations team when asked about the timing. “Bernard Truong is leaving the board of directors for personal reasons.”
As of Monday afternoon, the board of directors webpage had been removed from Montreal Pride’s website. According to his LinkedIn profile, Truong works as a senior director at Desjardins.
On Friday, five federal MPs signed a joint letter condemning the decision to exclude Ga’ava, calling it “profoundly hurtful” and urging organizers to reverse it.
“Ga’ava has long provided a vital space for queer Jews to express both their sexual and religious identities with pride,” the MPs wrote. “Its exclusion sends a message that Jewish identity is not welcome in LGBTQ+ spaces.”
Fierté Montréal has since confirmed the group was barred from marching after a complaint led the event’s ombudsperson to intervene. Carlos Godoy, Ga’ava’s president, told The Gazette that organizers accused the group of hate speech for labelling its critics “pro-terror” and “pro-Hamas.” He called the charge “outlandish and ludicrous.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs was also reportedly excluded, although Fierté Montréal organizers have not publicly acknowledged that decision.
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