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Ottawa Citizen

Capital Pride quietly removes controversial 2024 Palestine solidarity statement

The Pride Movement is inherently political for Masha Davidovic, a member of Queers for Palestine – Ottawa group. Article content 'Many of our community members live at the intersection of different identities that can't be separated from each other,' she said. 'Those solidarity values are a key part of our history.' Article content Article content So, for Davidovic, Capital Pride's Aug. 6, 2024, statement in solidarity with Palestine set 'a positive tone.' Article content 'Much more diverse sections of our community felt a sense of belonging, and it was an experience that lived up to the slogans that are so widely felt in our community,' she said of Pride festivities last year. Article content Article content Article content Organizing group Capital Pride's 2024 statement — recognizing the 'ongoing genocide' in Gaza and promising to integrate a boycott list into sponsorship reviews — sparked widespread controversy. Now, with this year's Pride Parade looming around the corner on Aug. 24, groups have noticed that Capital Pride has quietly taken down their 2024 statement. Article content While some organizations that boycotted last year have pledged to march in this year's parade, some groups are calling for the statement of support for Palestine to be brought back. Article content Article content 'While Capital Pride did remove the 2024 statement in support of Palestine from our online environment, we do not retract our position,' wrote Capital Pride executive director Callie Metler in an emailed statement. 'The values we expressed continue to be guiding principles of our organization.' Article content Capital Pride did not respond to questions about when or why the statement was dropped from their website. Article content Various organizations and people who boycotted last year's Pride affirmed their plan to participate in the 2025 festivities. Article content 'The Ontario Liberal Party chose not to march in last year's Capital Pride parade because members felt Capital Pride's statement did not reflect the spirit of inclusion we believe in, and some in Ottawa's 2SLGBTQIA+ community felt unwelcome as a result,' wrote Kathryn McGarry, president of the Ontario Liberal Party, in an emailed statement.