Ottawa Pride Parade Halts, Sparking Internal LGBTQ+ Debate Over Palestinian Solidarity
Ottawa’s annual Pride parade was unexpectedly cancelled on Sunday after a pro-Palestinian advocacy group, Queers for Palestine — Ottawa (Q4P), blocked the parade route and demanded negotiations with organizers. The group issued demands, including a boycott of Israel and an apology from city officials for a prior boycott of the 2024 Pride event. Capital Pride confirmed the cancellation and cited unsuccessful attempts to modify the route. This year’s cancellation occurred amidst controversy from 2024 where a letter was written that condemned the acts of terrorism and brutal campaign in Gaza.
John Q. Hosedrinker