On Thursday August 15, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe stated over X (formerly known as Twitter) that he will no longer be taking part in any pride activities hosted by Capital Pride, which starts this weekend.
This happened as a result of a Capital Pride statement on August 6 in solidarity with Palestine in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
This decision has them facing backlash from Ottawa citizens, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
“I’m disappointed that despite conversations with the Jewish community, the board of Capital Pride has chosen to stand behind its original statement that caused significant hurt and distress for many members of the Jewish community. This decision by the board, days before the start of Pride, has unfortunately created an atmosphere where many now do not feel welcome to participate… I will not be participating in events organized by Capital Pride this year.”
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