The Liberal Party of Canada joined the movement of major institutions cutting ties with Ottawa’s Pride organization ahead of its annual Pride parade this year after Capital Pride refused to reverse an anti-Israel statement it released early in the month.
The Liberals have decided not to participate in Capital Pride’s annual Pride parade, joining Jewish community groups, the Mayor of Ottawa and several major institutions in withdrawing support for the organization.
The groups criticized Capital Pride for its anti-Israel statement it made on Aug. 6. Capital Pride vowed to join the anti-Israel boycott, divest, and sanctions movement and promised to declare that Israel’s response to Oct. 7 is a genocide at the beginning of each event during the Pride festival.
The group also accused Israel of “pinkwashing” its alleged human rights violations against Palestinians by having human rights for gay people. Israel has had gay rights since 1963, and same-sex activity has been legalized in the Jewish state since 1988.
“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 Liberal Party spokesperson Parker Lund in a statement to the CTV.
Andrew Perez, Principal at Perez Strategies and a Liberal strategist thinks that the federal Liberal Party made the right decision to pull support from Capital Pride amid an exodus of its institutional partners, including the LPC, who have historically participated in the march.
“Capital Pride’s statement does not reflect the positions the Trudeau government has adopted on issues relating to Israel and this conflict: they have not endorsed the BDS movement, nor have they used the term genocide to describe the ongoing Israel-Hamas War,” Perez told True North in an email. “Through their actions, Capital Pride has organized an annual festival that ought to unite people, civil society groups, and major institutions like hospitals and schools, and politicized it over a foreign conflict.”
Jewish community groups were the first to respond to the Pride organization’s anti-Israel stance last week. Six groups, including the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, and Hillel Ottawa, banded together to denounce Capital Pride’s decision.
The groups criticized Capital Pride for failing in its mandate to ensure the inclusion and safety of all the members of the LGBT+ community, claiming that Jewish community members were being ostracized from this year’s event.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe vowed not to participate in the Thursday parade. The University of Ottawa has followed suit, saying Capital Pride’s anti-Israel statement doesn’t align with the university’s values.
“The University of Ottawa is committed to fostering a space of respect and inclusion for all. In light of recent statements made by Capital Pride, the University has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2024 Capital Pride Parade,” Jesse Robichaud, a spokesperson for the university, told True North. “The statements do not align with the University’s broader mission and values. This decision does not change our enthusiasm and commitment toward celebrating Pride and supporting the LGBTQ2S+ community on our campuses and throughout our region.”
A growing number of major institutions that have withdrawn support from Capital Pride, such as the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the United States Embassy in Ottawa, and the Public Service Pride Network, who have since joined the Jewish community in boycotting the march.
On Monday, Capital Pride posted an Instagram statement reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and safety. However, it hasn’t indicated that it would change its public stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We reiterate that Capital Pride is, and always will be, committed to combating all forms of hate, discrimination and intolerance, including antisemitism and Islamophobia,” the statement said. “Queer and trans people of all religions, including Jewish and Muslim folks, are an integral part of our local community. We reject any attempts to marginalize religious and cultural minority groups from the broader Pride movement.”
Dr. Casey Babb, a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute, feels that the statements reflect only that Capital Pride has fallen victim to “intentionally engineered antisemitic propaganda.
“Capital Pride – like so many other ‘progressive’ entities have continued to regularly parrot Soviet-style antisemitic messages and rhetoric which unfortunately, but not surprisingly, have become a pillar of the contemporary left,” Babb told True North in an email.
“Before it releases any further statements – Capital Pride might want to take some time to look inward, to reflect, and to understand the root causes and origins of its incredibly disturbing and disgusting stance on Israel – the only country in the entirety of the Middle East where they would be welcomed and embraced.”
