Ottawa — Capital Pride has removed a controversial 2024 statement that called out the situation in Gaza and pledged solidarity with Palestinians. The organization says the text was taken down as part of a website update.
The removal comes while activists press a campaign to restore the statement. Petitioners argue the statement belonged on the Pride site and that Pride has always been political. Organizers of the campaign have circulated letters and online actions urging Capital Pride to reinstate the language.
Last year, the statement prompted a wave of withdrawals. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa and several partner organizations said they would not participate in the parade. Two major hospitals announced they would pull out. Ottawa’s mayor also declined to take part in events organized by Capital Pride. Those departures narrowed the event’s support among mainstream institutions.
Jewish community leaders framed their departures as a necessary step to protect Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ people. In a public release, the Jewish Federation said the statement risked “marginalizing Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ individuals” and that it could make members of the community feel unsafe or unwelcome. The federation said it could not in good conscience participate while concerns remained unaddressed.
Supporters of Capital Pride’s decision to remove the text say the move restores the festival’s primary mission. They argue Pride should center the safety and unity of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Ottawa rather than serve as a vehicle for foreign policy advocacy. Those who withdrew cited concern that the event had been repurposed as a protest about Israel at the expense of local community cohesion.
Critics of the removal say erasing the statement amounts to silencing Palestinian voices within queer communities. Activists have framed reinstatement as a matter of principle and solidarity. The dispute has split local organizers and left many community groups weighing whether to re-engage.
Capital Pride’s board faces competing pressures. Restoring the statement risks further institutional withdrawal and funding losses. Leaving it down risks alienating activists who view Pride as inherently political.
For Jewish and pro-Israel readers, the removal is being read as a corrective step that reduces overt politicization and affirms that Pride events should be safe and welcoming for all participants, including Jews.
The controversy highlights broader tensions among community groups over how Pride should balance protest, solidarity, and inclusive celebration. For now, Capital Pride has chosen to remove the page from its public site while fielding calls on both sides.
This article is based on verified information from Yahoo News, Action Network, CTV News, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, and CBC.