Jewish Federation of Ottawa pulls out of Capital Pride parade following pro-Palestinian statement

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The Jewish Federation of Ottawa will not participate in the Capital Pride parade this year after organizers of Ottawa’s annual Pride festival released a statement of support for Palestinians.

In a statement released Wednesday the Jewish Federation of Ottawa said it met with Capital Pride co-chairs this week to “address our serious concerns about their recent antisemitic statement.”

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“While our initial meeting was positive, Capital Pride’s board has decided they are unwilling to reconsider or act on their position and make this year’s Pride events safe and inclusive for all,” the statement said.

“Given Capital Pride’s refusal to adjust its stance, and the significant harm this position poses to the safety of the Jewish community, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and our community partners have made the difficult, but necessary decision to withdraw from this year’s Pride parade.

“This choice was not made lightly, but we cannot in good conscience support an event that marginalizes Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and the broader Jewish community.”

The statement said this choice “also does not align with Capital Pride’s advertised mission: respecting the full diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”

Capital Pride’s statement, released last week, said in part that the organization condemned the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but “by the same token, we cannot stay silent in the face of Israel’s endless and brutal campaign in Gaza and mounting violence in the West Bank, where innocent Palestinians — many of whom have friends, families and loved ones in our communities — are being slaughtered, dehumanized and dispossessed of their land in flagrant violation of international law.”

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The statement also said the International Court of Justice “expressed grave concerns with the state of the war in Gaza, stating that there is a plausible risk of genocide.”

“We are deeply concerned by the rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia we are witnessing here in Canada. As a community facing rising levels of hate-motivated crimes, we know all too well how hate erodes our security. In this climate, we reaffirm that intolerance has no place in our events,” the statement read.

“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 committed to four actions “to breathe life into our sincere hope for an end to this war and justice for all its victims,” including “recognizing the ongoing genocide against Palestinians” in opening remarks at all signature events, pushing for a ceasefire, hosting a “queer Arab showcase” and integrating the Palestinian Boycott, Divest and Sanction National Committee’s boycott list in its review of current and future sponsorships

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READ MORE: Capital Pride’s pro-Palestinian messaging alarms Ottawa’s Jewish community

Somerset ward Coun. Ariel Troster said she was “deeply sad” to hear of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s decision to not participate in Pride.

“As a queer Jew, I know how important it is for both queer and trans people to feel affirmed both by their faith/cultural communities and by the 2SLGBTQ+ community” a statement by Troster posted to social media read in part. “Having to choose between were you came from and who you are is extremely painful.”

She added Pride “is and always has been political,” saying she wasn’t surprised to see Capital Pride release a statement in support of Palestinian people, “who have been enduring a brutal war and the deaths of more than 40,000 civilians.”

Troster’s statement said criticizing the actions of the Israeli government was not antisemitic and she wasn’t personally offended, “but many Jewish people I know felt erased by the way it was written and were left wondering if they would be welcome or safe at Pride.”

She encouraged Capital Pride to “affirm vocally and unequivocally that Jews are welcome to march in Pride and that antisemitism will not be tolerated.

“We can disagree vigorously, but we are still family,” Troster wrote. “Pride is for everyone who is a member of or an ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”

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