Liberal Party latest organization to pull out of Ottawa pride parade
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OTTAWA — The Liberal Party of Canada is the latest organization to distance itself from Ottawa’s annual pride festival, following controversial remarks by organizers.
Earlier this month, Capital Pride issued a contentious statement declaring solidarity with Palestinians — accusing Israel of “pink-washing” the conflict and characterizing accusations of anti-LGBTQ sentiments in Gaza as anti-Palestinian racism.
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“By portraying itself as a protector of the rights of queer and trans people in the Middle East, Israel seeks to draw attention away from its abhorrent human rights abuses against Palestinians,” the statement read, despite Israel being a well-known haven for queer or trans people in the Middle East.
“We refuse to be complicit in this violence.”
Capital Pride kicked off its week-long festival Saturday, culminating in this Sunday’s pride parade in downtown Ottawa.
On Monday, the Liberals became the latest organization to abandon the week-long festival.
“In light of recent decisions made by the Capital Pride board, the Liberal Party has decided not to participate in Capital Pride events this year, and instead will host our own event to celebrate Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQI+ communities,” said spokesperson Parker Lund.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a regular attendee of the festival and parade.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced last week that he wouldn’t be taking part in any Capital Pride events, shortly after the Jewish Federation of Ottawa said they were withdrawing.
The Ottawa Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) likewise ended their involvement.
By Monday evening, the United States Embassy in Ottawa vowed not to take part in any Capital Pride events this year, following similar announcements from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Public Service Pride Network and the University of Ottawa.
“Inclusivity and supporting all communities we serve is very important to us as a hospital, as is the safety of any TOH staff/physician, and patient,” the The Ottawa Hospital said in a statement sent to the Ottawa Sun.
In a similar statement, CHEO CEO Alex Munter said they wouldn’t take part because members of the hospital and the community at large “no longer feel safe or welcome to attend.”
“We feel it would not be responsible for us to send staff, physicians, their family and friends, as well as patients to this event.”
Despite Capital Pride’s assertions that pointing out Palestinian LGBT intolerance is racist, a clip from a 2022 sermon by Sheikh Mohammed Saleem Ali described homosexuality as an ‘abomination.’
“Will you allow a single homosexual on the land of Jerusalem and Palestine?” said Ali in the clip filmed at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, who also denounced males and females studying together at universities.
“We hereby declare that we reject and abhor all manifestations of homosexuality and perversion.”
The Toronto Sun reached out to Capital Pride for comment, but in a new statement issued Monday morning the organization reaffirmed its stance.
“Queer and trans people of all religions, including Jewish and Muslim folks, are an integral part of our local community,” the statement read.
“We reject any attempts to marginalize religious and cultural minority groups from the broader Pride movement.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
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