TORONTO — An artist who contributed murals to Pride Toronto for several years says festival organizers declined to explain why his proposal to spotlight Jewish LGBTQ experiences was rejected, prompting criticism from Jewish advocacy groups that argue the omission undermines inclusion.
Adam Zivo wrote in The Line that after producing successful portable murals for Pride Toronto in prior years, the festival “abruptly froze out” his pitch to create work highlighting queer Jewish Canadians. He said Pride Toronto did not answer his inquiries about the decision.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs posted on social media that “Pride should be for everyone. And that includes Jewish LGBTQ+ people,” linking to Zivo’s account and urging attention to Pride Toronto’s silence. CIJA and other Jewish organizations say the gap is part of a broader pattern in which Jewish perspectives are sidelined at public institutions, including cultural festivals and civic events.
Zivo’s account describes a long history of collaboration with the festival. He said a 2022 mural honoring queer Ukrainians was approved and installed after Pride staff initially supported the concept, and that the 2023 StreetFair art program included his work. He adds that the change in response this year came without substantive explanation. The Pride Toronto archive lists Zivo’s prior pieces among its Art Zone entries.
Jewish community leaders framed the refusal as part of a worrying trend. CIJA has publicly criticized Pride Toronto in the past for what it called “erasure” of Jewish concerns following Pride Toronto’s statements related to the Israel-Hamas war and its refusal to denounce antisemitic incidents. CIJA said such actions send a message of exclusion to Jewish members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Pride Toronto did not provide a public comment to Zivo for his piece, according to the article. When asked why it had not spotlighted queer Jewish experiences in its public art, the festival chose not to respond to the specific questions, the artist wrote. Multiple Jewish organizations interpreted that silence as unacceptable and as evidence of inconsistent application of the festival’s stated values.
Supporters of Pride Toronto’s editorial and programming choices argue that festivals must balance representation across many communities and that programming decisions often involve curatorial judgment, venue constraints, and evolving priorities. They also note that large festivals receive numerous pitches and cannot accommodate all projects. Critics reply that a transparent, documented rationale is essential when proposals highlight historically marginalized groups and when those groups report feeling excluded.
For queer Jewish Canadians, the dispute goes beyond a single art installation. Jewish leaders say the pattern of omission compounds existing concerns about antisemitism and whether Pride spaces remain safe and welcoming. CIJA urged Pride organizers and other institutions to engage directly with Jewish LGBTQ stakeholders, adopt clear inclusion practices, and ensure programming reflects the full diversity of queer experiences.
Zivo and Jewish groups are calling for Pride Toronto to explain its decisions and to consult with queer Jewish community members on future programming. Some community leaders say they will continue to participate in Pride while pressing for changes that guarantee visibility and safety. Others are reassessing participation until they see meaningful steps toward inclusion.
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This article is based on verified information from The Line, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Pride Toronto’s Art Zone archive, and the Canadian Jewish News.