Two Jewish 2SLGBTQ+ organizations that were previously blocked from participating in Montreal’s Pride parade have now been allowed to join. Fierté Montréal, the entity overseeing the event, expressed its commitment to inclusivity and issued an apology to the Jewish communities, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe and welcoming environment for all attendees.
The decision to reinstate the groups followed the resignation of the chair of Fierté Montréal’s board of directors for personal reasons. This reversal occurred shortly after the organization condemned the situation in Gaza and initially excluded certain groups for promoting divisive rhetoric.
Among the organizations initially barred were the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and Ga’ava, a prominent Jewish LGBTQ+ group in Canada. CIJA revealed that the exclusion stemmed from statements made in a Jewish community publication regarding last year’s parade disruptions.
Marlot Marleau, the new board chair of Fierté Montréal, explained that while the organizations’ statements were deemed unacceptable, the goal was not to alienate the broader Jewish community for the actions of individuals. The controversy also led to criticism of Fierté Montréal’s neutrality stance on political issues, prompting a performer to withdraw from the festival.
In response to the backlash, five Members of Parliament penned an open letter urging Fierté Montréal to reverse its decision, describing it as detrimental to the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities in Montreal. CIJA, after engaging in discussions with Fierté Montréal’s new leadership, welcomed the reinstatement of the previously excluded groups.
Helem Montréal, an advocate for Arabic-speaking LGBTQ+ individuals, criticized Fierté Montréal’s actions as insincere, labeling them as a public relations maneuver rather than a genuine effort to support the community. Despite the reinstatement of Ga’ava and CIJA, Fierté Montréal faced further criticism from groups like the Iranian Montreal Rainbow Alliance, which was also excluded from the parade. Marleau expressed openness to dialogue with the excluded organizations moving forward.