Board chairman steps down amidst festival festivities
Fierté Montréal, the annual celebration of the city's LGBTQ+ community, is gearing up for its 2025 edition, scheduled from July 31st to August 10th. Despite recent controversies, the team, staff, and volunteers remain dedicated to their mission of amplifying voices and creating inclusive, safe, and meaningful spaces.
The controversy began when Fierté Montréal was pressured to take a stance on the Israeli-Palestinian war, facing criticism both for not speaking out and for alleged associations with groups seen as supporting Israel. This division intensified when singer Safia Nolin withdrew from performing due to the presence of a Zionist-identified group in the parade.
Fierté Montréal then clarified its position, condemning “the ongoing genocide in Gaza” and expressing solidarity with Palestinians, while also banning organizations accused of promoting hate speech from the parade. The geopolitical tension resulted in the resignation of Bernard Truong, who expressed feeling trapped in a "damned if you do, damned if you don’t" situation, leading to his discomfort with the organization abandoning neutrality.
Following the turmoil, the festival organizers reversed a ban on Jewish groups previously excluded from the parade, acknowledging that the decision was perceived as exclusionary to the entire Jewish community. Marlot Marleau, Truong's successor as board chair, apologized and emphasized inclusivity for LGBTQ+ Jews to fully express their identities within Pride.
Despite the leadership change, Fierté Montréal stated that Truong’s resignation would not affect the ongoing festival activities, which continue through to the parade on August 10, 2025. However, the incident has spotlighted internal conflicts and strained relations within Montreal's LGBTQ+ and wider communities, influencing both organizational governance and the festival’s reputation going forward.
Safia Nolin, who canceled her participation due to the planned presence of Ga'ava, a group identified as Zionist, expressed her concerns about the Israeli flag being in the parade last year. Some citizens published an open letter in La Presse in support of Ga'ava, stating that their only position is to express support for Israel, where LGBTQ+ rights are protected.
Despite the challenges, the entire team, staff, and volunteers of Fierté Montréal remain committed to delivering a unifying festival, faithful to its mission. Marlot Marleau's presidency is intended to ensure an effective transition of files within Fierté Montréal, with the focus and goals of the organization remaining unchanged. The 2025 edition of Fierté Montréal is set to be a significant event, serving as a testament to the resilience and unity of the LGBTQ+ community in Montreal.
[1] The Gazette [2] CBC News [3] The Jewish Chronicle [4] Montreal Gazette [5] CBC News
The controversy surrounding Fierté Montréal's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, involving the general-news of political divisions, has been widely reported by media outlets such as The Gazette, CBC News, and The Jewish Chronicle. Despite the turmoil, the general-news of crime-and-justice, including the resignation of Bernard Truong, has not affected the 2025 edition of the festival, which aims to be a unifying event for the LGBTQ+ community in Montreal.
