Pride launches amid pro-Palestinian pledge controversy and some welcome the discussion

Ottawa's annual Pride festival began Saturday amidsome controversy as theorganization behind it facesscrutiny over apro-Palestinian statement it issued in the lead up to the festivities.

Last Tuesday, Capital Prideissued four"commitments," pledging torecognize the "ongoing genocide" in Gaza in opening remarks, integrate a boycott list into its sponsorship reviews, host a "queer Arab showcase" and call for a ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and increased humanitarian aid.

It was met with backlash and saw The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), CHEO, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and the Jewish Federation of Ottawawithdraw from Capital Pride-led events.

"I feel like these events should be about diversity and inclusion," Sutcliffe said Friday. "And right now there are members of our community feeling excluded."

Despite the response, Capital Pride executive director CallieMetlersaid Saturday that they're committedto hosting a festival that welcomes everyone.

"What I just really want to drive home on that point is that everyone is welcome at our events," Metler said.

"We're still getting things going and we're still kicking things off," she added. "But we are also listening and I think that comes or rolls nicely into our theme this year: listen, learn, act."

Metleralso said she's disappointed some felt excluded.

"We welcome everyone in the 2SLGBT community and our allies and that includes our mayor."

'We need to have politics in queer spaces'

Some people celebrating the first day of Pride said they're welcomingthe discussion the statement sparked.

"I feel like we need to have politics in queer spaces for it to actually be effective activism," said Skylar Moore, who was attendingCapital Pride's first event of the festival a clothing swap at the Jack Purcell Community Centre and Pool.

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Others who attended a Pride brunch and dance hosted by the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research (CANFAR) agreed.

"I'm really grateful they put out the statement because I think it's really important," said Ralph Guth, who's attending his first Pride in Ottawa after arriving from Vienna.

"Pride is a political event by [nature]. Like,by our history, it's a political event."

Adrian de Armero has been frequenting Pride events in Ottawa for about six years, andwhile it's always been a "fun celebration [of] love," he said this year feels a bit different.

"You can be any religion or have any belief, but still participate, still show love and solidarity," said de Armero, adding it was unfortunate some people were pulling out of Capital Pride events.

"I hope people can come together and celebrate something that they agree on."

Always been about advocacy, says grand marshal

Haley Robinson, Capital Pride's grand marshal,also weighed inwhile attending CANFAR's brunch.

"I don't think the statement was meant for anybody to feel unwelcome," Robinson said, adding that it's necessary thatPride remains open to polarizing conversations including ones about global conflicts.

"People have to remember that Pride isn't just about a parade and celebration," they said. "It's always been advocacy. It's always been a fight soI think it's really important to continue to show your support for Palestinians and for other folks who are marginalized."

A Cree, Filipinx two-spirit advocate and content creator, Robinson is also an ambassador for Sexfluent, a youth-driven non-profit operating out of CANFAR's head office that focuses on HIV prevention and sexual health promotion.

Robinson said at this year's Pride they'll be carrying outadvocacy work and also having a good time.

"What I just gotta remember [is] that what I fight for and what I stand for is really important for the queer community, for the Indigenous community," Robinson said. "And so I just continue to do that."

Health-care group to pen open letter

Meanwhile, a groupof pro-Palestinian health-care workers isspeaking out against CHEO and TOH'sdecision to pull out of this year's Capital Pride parade.

Maria Fakhouri,a representative with the group Ottawa Healthcare Professionals for Palestineand a queer Palestinian psychotherapist, said it was "incrediblydisappointing and frustrating" to see both institutions cite concerns over inclusivityand safety.

"It's an attempt to conflate support for Palestine with antisemitism," she said.

The group is putting together an open letter that can be signed by health-care workers across Ontario.Fakhouri said itwill call on the hospitals "to uphold the truth" by accepting Capital Pride's statement of solidarity.

In a memo to staff, CHEO CEO Alex Munter said Capital Pride had decided to "repurpose the Pride parade to protest Israel" and that members of the community no longer felt "safe or welcome to attend."

A TOH spokesperson told Radio-Canadathe hospital was "heartbroken" that it would not be at the parade but felt it would have been irresponsible to send its staff and physicians.