Fierté Montreal deletes Gaza solidarity statement, reinvites Jewish organizations

CTV News

4 hours ago

Fierté Montreal backtracked on a decision to exclude groups it said was 'spreading hateful discourse' from this year's Pride Parade and deleted a statement in which it 'expresses solidarity with the Palestianian people' from its social media.
Last week, Fierté said the organization's ombudsman received complaints, leading to a news release saying some groups would be excluded from festivities without specifying which.
Gaa'va, a Jewish LGBTQ+ group, responded on social media, saying it was 'deeply shocked to learn that LGBTQ+ Jewish people and their allies would be excluded from the 2025 parade.' It has since been reinvited.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a Zionist lobby group advocating for the Canadian Jewish community, said it was told it could not participate in the parade.
It has worked with Gaa'va for years.
Quebec singer Safia Nolin pulled out of the Pride festival last week prior to Fierté's announcement, saying she would not perform after learning that Gaa'va, which she called a Zionist organization, would take part in the parade.
CIJA denies claims it was spreading hateful discourse and called the decision to exclude some groups an 'egregious mistake.'
On Tuesday, Fierté put out a release apologizing to Montreal's Jewish community and deleted its initial statement on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for immediate and lasting peace and condemning the 'ongoing genocide' in Gaza.
Bernard Truong, chairman of Fierté's board, resigned on Monday, citing personal reasons.
'Following complaints about statements deemed hateful, the organization announced last week its intention to deny participation in the Parade to certain organizations, some of which represent the Jewish community,' Fierté said in a news release.
'Although this was not Fierté Montréal's intention, the announcement was perceived by the Jewish community in Quebec (and especially by Jewish members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community) as a way to exclude them from its events. This does not reflect the inclusive values that guide Fierté Montréal's actions,' it added.
It said it reached out to organizations, including CIJA, 'to clarify the situation and to ensure a space that is inclusive and safe for everyone, especially for Jewish members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who wish to take part in the Parade.'
CIJA confirmed in a news release that it was reinvited to participate in the parade.
'In recent days, it has become clear that excluding groups representing the Jewish community would have sent the message that Jews, Jewish 2ELGBTQIA+ individuals, and allies of the community were not welcome in the rainbow of Montreal Pride. This would have been unacceptable,' it said.
Pride week festivities began on Monday and last until the parade on Sunday.