On August 6^th, Capital Pride, the LGBTQ2S+ organization that organizes Ottawa's annual pride parade, released a statement expressing solidarity with Palestine. Capital Pride condemned Israel’s brutality and relentless violence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Emphasizing the rising levels of both antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada, Capital Pride specifically denounced Israel's pinkwashing: "By portraying itself as a protector of the rights of queer and trans people in the Middle East, Israel seeks to draw attention away from its abhorrent human rights abuses against Palestinians."

Capital Pride also committed to several actions, including:

• Integrate resources and review its current and future sponsorship agreements based on the Palestinian BDS National Committee’s boycott list;
• Recognize the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in opening remarks at 2024 Capital Pride Festival Signature Events;
• Collaborate with public and private partners in support of an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, increased access to humanitarian aid, and more accessible pathways for refugees.

Following their statement, Capital Pride was slandered by pro-Israel groups, who falsely claimed that the statement was exclusionary and antisemitic, making some in the community unwelcome. Following their lead, the Liberal Party of Canada,  the University of Ottawa, the Bank of Canada, and the Ottawa Hospital, among other institutions, have shamefully decided to withdraw their participation. In doing so, they have sent a message that Palestinians are not deserving of solidarity. To their credit, Capital Pride has stood by its statement in the face of these attacks and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion. 

Denouncing Israel’s violence and genocide against Palestinians is completely legitimate and moral. Trying to frame Capital Pride as discriminatory or exclusive because it stands for human rights or because it supports the boycott of Israel is absurd. Those who have abandoned Pride over its solidarity with Palestinians are showing their true colours!

We, the undersigned, express our support for Capital Pride’s statement in solidarity with Palestine, and denounce the efforts to undermine it.