Montreal Pride on the brink of extinction?
Montreal Pride's 2025 festival and parade took place amidst a whirlwind of controversy and internal strife. The event, themed "Bloom Here, Bloom Now!", celebrated the right of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to grow, thrive, and love openly, despite the challenges faced by the organisation.
The controversy began with the exclusion of certain Jewish LGBTQ+ groups, including Ga’ava, from participating in the parade due to alleged "hateful discourse" linked to comments about pro-Palestinian groups. This decision sparked backlash from the Jewish community and political sponsors, as governments at federal, provincial, and municipal levels support the festival.
Following public pressure and advocacy, Pride organisers reversed the ban and reinvited the Jewish LGBTQ+ groups to participate in the parade. However, the crisis continued as the General Director of Montreal Pride, Simon Gamache, was put on medical leave.
The leadership crisis deepened when the board chair, Bernard Truong, stepped down, citing personal reasons but linked to the ongoing crisis. Two other board members also left the organisation shortly after Truong's departure. A group of 16 people denounced this decision in a letter published in La Presse.
The source from Montreal Pride states that geopolitical conflicts have taken over Prides around the world, with activists targeting artists scheduled to perform at the festival to discourage them from participating. This pressure has created a climate of "fear" and "intimidation" within the organisation.
Despite these challenges, Montreal Pride has acknowledged that the decision to exclude certain groups from the parade was felt by Quebec's Jewish LGBTQ+ community as a desire to exclude them from its events. The organisation has apologised to the Jewish community and assured them of an inclusive and safe space during the parade.
Until his medical leave, General Director Gamache hoped to recreate the atmosphere of last year's festival where both Jewish and Palestinian groups participated in the parade. The future of Montreal Pride may depend on how the organisation navigates inclusivity issues, leadership stability, and political sensitivities going forward, aiming to uphold its role as a major LGBTQ+ event in the Francophone world.
The crisis facing Montreal Pride raises questions about whether protecting one's own battleground is the new fight for the LGBTQ+ community. The ongoing resilience and adaptation of Montreal Pride in the face of internal dissent and external political pressures are a testament to the strength and determination of the organisation and the community it serves.
References:
- Montreal Pride Reverses Ban on Jewish LGBTQ+ Groups
- Montreal Pride Parade 2025: Thousands March in Celebration
- Montreal Pride Apologises to Jewish Community After Controversial Ban
- Montreal Pride: From Inclusion to Targeted Exclusion
- The Inside Story of the Montreal Pride Crisis
- Montreal Pride: Bloom Here, Bloom Now!
- Letter: Montreal Pride: From Inclusion to Targeted Exclusion
- Montreal Pride: Fear and Intimidation
- Montreal Pride: Geopolitical Conflicts Take Over Prides Around the World
- Montreal Pride Acknowledges Decision to Exclude Groups Felt as Exclusion of Jewish LGBTQ+ Community
- Montreal Pride: Hostage to the Ongoing Crisis
- Column: Protecting One's Own Battleground is the New Fight for the LGBTQ+ Community
- The social media buzz surrounding Montreal Pride's 2025 festival was dominated by debates about policy-and-legislation pertaining to inclusivity, following the exclusion of certain Jewish LGBTQ+ groups.
- Entertainment events, such as the Montreal Pride parade, have been at the center of war-and-conflicts, as activists target artists scheduled to perform due to their political affiliations.
- The general news has reported on the leadership crisis at Montreal Pride, with the medical leave of General Director Simon Gamache and the resignation of board chair Bernard Truong, resulting in sports-betting opportunities being questioned for the upcoming Montreal Pride events.
- Politics has played a significant role in the controversies faced by Montreal Pride, as governments at various levels provide funding, and the exclusion of Jewish LGBTQ+ groups sparked backlash from political sponsors.
