Latest news with #QueersforPalestine
Ottawa Citizen
10-08-2025
- Politics
- 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.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Eurovision explainer: Why was the song contest controversial last year?
The competition, usually the preserve of the weird and most wonderful acts that Europe has to muster, found itself bogged down in Malmo, Sweden, in controversy and politics amid the war in the Middle East. The event began with a boycott, featured protests, and a rare disqualification along with criticism from artists, and the 2024 winner Nemo Mettler saying they were 'really sad' after their triumph with The Code. Here we take a look at what happened: Israel boycott call There have been many years where Israeli broadcaster Kan competing in the contest has drawn calls for a boycott, but despite this the country has won four times. However, this time those entering – including the UK's Olly Alexander and Irish hopeful Bambie Thug – called for an 'immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages' during the Hamas-Israel war. They also rejected the boycott push from Finnish, Swedish, Irish and Icelandic musical artists and a letter from Queers for Palestine, signed by actress Maxine Peake, as did the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU, which has had Israel competing since the 1970s, defended its decision to allow the country to enter, saying that it would be a violation of its rules. It also pointed out that Russia, which was banned after the invasion of Ukraine, was kicked out due to 'consistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service media values'. Added to the pressure from outside of Eurovision, acts such as Bambie said that they 'do not agree with the decision' the EBU made by allowing Israel to take part. 'I am pro-Palestine through and through and without us there, there would be less voices that are pro,' they also said. There has been renewed calls this year with the UK's 2023 contestant Mae Muller, who came second last, joining former Eurovision contestants in calling for a ban on Kan along with Spanish civil society groups that was raised by its broadcaster RTVE. ADVERTISEMENT The EBU said: 'We welcome RTVE confirming their commitment to the Eurovision Song Contest and appreciate there are concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.' Thousands protest Ahead of Israeli singer Eden Golan performing in the semi-final, a Swedish police estimate of between 10,000 to 12,000 pro-Palestinian people including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg marched through the city of Malmo. During the demonstrations, smoke canisters in the colours of the Palestinian flag were set off and protesters, some of whom had dogs, young children and bicycles with them, were carrying signs displaying images of Gaza civilians who have been injured amid the Hamas-Israel conflict. Israel has strongly denied any accusations of genocide and maintained it has the right to defend itself following the attacks launched by Hamas in October 2023 that saw more than 1,000 Israelis killed and kidnapped. Later that evening, Golan made it through to the final, and there was clear tension at a press conference after her triumph. The Netherlands act Joost Klein told Golan to answer a question on whether she is comprising the safety of other contestants at a press conference. She defended her participation, saying the EBU is 'taking all safety precautions to make this a safe and and united place for everyone'. The final, two days later, saw renewed protests, and increased security for Golan, with several demonstrators forcibly detained and dragged away by police in the stadium. In the Malmo Arena during final dress rehearsals, acts such as France's Slimane appeared to reference Gaza, calling for peace, and later countries including Norway, and Finland saw their spokespeople – who announce their countries' voting – step down. Bambie criticised Kan, accusing the Israeli broadcaster of a rule break over inciting 'violence', and missed their dress rehearsal as they felt they needed to bring a situation to the 'urgent attention' of the EBU. Kan also released a statement after the contest, saying its delegation 'faced immense pressure and an unprecedented display of hatred, notably from other delegations and artists, publicly and collectively, solely because of the simple fact that we are Israeli's and that we were there'. 'However, throughout the journey, the delegation maintained a dignified and respectful approach towards artists and other delegations, striving to foster unity around music while adhering to the competition's rules, unlike some other delegations,' they said. Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova music festival attack on October 7, will be taking part for Israel with New Day Will Rise. Dutch act disqualified Hours before the final, the organisers said Klein would be leaving after being accused of threatening behaviour towards a female member of the production crew on the night of the semi-final. This move was strongly criticised by the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros who called 'the penalty very heavy and disproportionate'. Swedish prosecutors later dropped the criminal case against him and he has always denied all wrongdoing. Avrotros later considered returning, and offered for Klein to represent the Netherlands again, which he declined. The broadcaster said in a statement that it is 'satisfied with the package of measures' that has been put in place by organisers and is looking 'positively to the future'. It cited 2025 changes by the EBU which included it having an artist safety manager, saying it will reduce behind-the-scenes filming, having a crisis team from across participating countries, and the appointment of Martin Green as new Eurovision director following its review. They have returned with Claude Kiambe and his song C'est La Vie for Basel 2025. Flags and symbols cause issues Despite a ban from the EBU, Palestinian flags were seen in the audience, the first semi-final saw former Swedish contestant and opening act Eric Saade wear a keffiyeh pattern material, commonly used by people who want to show they are pro-Palestinian, on his arm. The EBU hit out at Saade – whose father is Palestinian – for his compromise of 'the non-political nature of the event', while the singer defended it saying that the 'EBU seems to think my ethnicity is controversial'. There were also reports of EU and LGBT+ flags being refused into the arena, while Nemo claimed they were not allowed the non-binary flag of their identity and they had to 'smuggle' it in. A guideline for Basel's St Jakobshalle has been published that says that 'flags and banners that do not pose a risk to safety or production are permitted', which would allow Palestinian flags. It does not allow 'racist or discriminatory content, including symbols that incite hatred or violence', 'flags that could be considered offensive or defamatory', or 'symbols of banned terrorist organisations'. Delegations are only allowed the flags of their country, which appears to have prevented LGBT+ ones, according to the EBU code of conduct rules.
