Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has announced that he will not take part in any events hosted by Capital Pride this year, following a recent statement from the organization expressing support for Palestinians.
Capital Pride, the annual LGBTQ+ festival in Ottawa, issued a statement earlier this month outlining four key commitments for this year’s celebrations. These include acknowledging the “ongoing genocide against Palestinians” in the opening remarks of all major events, advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, presenting a “queer Arab showcase,” and incorporating the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee’s boycott list into their sponsorship review process.
The statement condemned the terrorist acts of Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, but then accused Israel of “pinkwashing” its actions in Gaza by presenting itself as a defender of LGBTQ2S+ rights. It criticized the notion that all Palestinians hold homophobic and transphobic views.
The statement received support from some groups, like Queers4Palestine Ottawa and Queers Against Pinkwashing, but faced immediate criticism from various Jewish residents and organizations. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa, in particular, announced that it would not participate in this year’s Capital Pride parade.
Sutcliffe, who had previously urged Capital Pride to engage with Jewish community leaders to address their concerns, expressed his disappointment on social media. He stated that the organization’s stance has created an environment where many feel unwelcome. He urged Capital Pride to take measures to ensure inclusivity.
While Mayor Sutcliffe plans to attend other pride-related activities, he indicated that unless Capital Pride changes its approach, he will not participate in events organized by the festival this year. He did not specify which events he would attend. Last year, Sutcliffe participated in the Capital Pride parade as mayor and previously as a mayoral candidate in 2022. Recently, he attended a pride flag-raising event in Stittsville.
The Capital Pride Festival will begin on Saturday, August 17, and the parade is scheduled for August 25.