2SLGBTQ+ groups cut ties with Fierté Montréal, accusing organization of toxic culture

Fierté Montreal is facing a wave of criticism as dozens of community group cut ties with the organization.

A growing number of queer groups in Quebec are distancing themselves from Fierté Montréal, denouncing what they describe as a toxic organizational culture that excludes the very communities the festival claims to uplift.

Helem MTL, a group representing Arabic-speaking 2SLGBTQ+ communities, was the first to publicly sever ties with the festival organizers. Since then, a dozen organizations have followed, including West Island CALACS, the LBTQ Youth Foundation, AlterHéros, and sapphic-led collectives such as Sweet Like Honey, BLUSH, ElleLui, and DISCOÑO.

In online statements, several groups accused the organization of misogyny, racism, gaslighting, and failing to pay artists on time. Others described a broader sense of alienation and a lack of transparency in decision-making.

“We have knocked on their doors so many times and they have not replied,” said Samya Lemrini, president of Helem MTL. “We have realized that it’s been the same discourse since 2022.”

Lemrini says Helem’s decision came after repeated experiences of racism and dismissal, particularly surrounding the group’s concerns about Fierté’s silence on the war in Gaza during last year’s events.

“When I think about Fierté Montréal, I physically don’t feel good because that’s how they made me feel,” she added.

‘There’s no way that we can stay with them’

One of the most recent departures from the festivities is the Réseau des lesbiennes du Québec (RLQ-QC), a network that has existed since the 1990s. Executive Director Cynthia Eysséric says their decision followed years of frustration with Fierté’s leadership.

“Every year, there’s so much sexism, and we’re trying to put forward our community — but it’s not possible because Fierté doesn’t listen,” said Eysséric. “There’s no way that we can stay with them after what we learned from other groups’ experiences.”

She added that while some Fierté staff are deeply committed to change, the problem lies within broader issues at the heart of the organization.

“Some employees are really, really great and try to change things from the inside,” she said. “But I just want a leadership that has courage and is willing to change something, and can take accountability for what they did and what is still going on.”

At the centre of the controversy is Simon Gamache, Fierté Montréal’s Executive Director. He says the criticism is being taken seriously and insists the organization is already undergoing major structural reforms.

“This toxicity that’s being denounced — I do not see it in my organization,” Gamache told CTV News. “But we hear the concerns, and we’re acting on them.”

Gamache says that since 2023, Fierté has adopted new bylaws and revamped its governance model, increasing participation in its General Assembly from 15 member groups to over 120.

“It’s a powerful change that brings many more organizations to the table — especially when it comes to voting,” he said. “There’s something that’s on us as well. We should have talked more about it, made it clearer. We went extremely fast over two years.”

Gamache denies accusations about unpaid artists.

He called the wave of departures “perplexing” given the steps already taken toward greater inclusion and representation.

Fierté Montréal’s board is currently conducting an internal review, and Gamache says a third-party process is also in the works. Recommendations are expected by the end of September.

But for some, the damage may already be done.

“There were supposed to be changes — and supposedly that’s what they did. But four or five years later, it’s still the same thing,” said Eysséric.

Lemrini agrees.

“They don’t tell us what they’re doing, so we cannot know,” she said, adding that ”they’ve shown us that they don’t care about us.”

She and other organizers are now looking to build something new — a separate Pride festival that reflects their values and lived experiences.

“Is it a festival? Is it a riot? I think it can be all of that,” said Lemrini. “It can be a safe space and we won’t have a choice but to take care of it ourselves — our own Wild Pride.”