Pride festivities focused on connection, community, and visibility are taking place across Ottawa this weekend. On Saturday, hundreds took part in the annual Dyke March, starting at the Human Rights Monument on Elgin Street. The event kicked off with speakers at a rally before the march moved through the streets and ended at a community gathering at Minto Park. The march has supported the LGBTQ+ community for more than 20 years. The group Queers for Palestine was also invited to join the Dyke March this year. In 2024, Queers for Palestine halted the Capital Pride Parade on its route, leading to its cancellation. It came after organizers of Capital Pride issued a statement expressing solidarity with Palestinians but removed it from its website after Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and several organizations pulled out of the parade and related events. “The reason that we’re inviting Queers for Palestine is to show solidarity and then also make the connection between our struggles and their struggles, showing how we move forward together,” said Blue Petties, a member of the organizing committee of the Dyke March. Organizers say allies of all backgrounds are welcome at the march. “One of the reasons that we like to embrace the Ottawa Dyke March and the history that we’ve had for 22 years is because we like to make space for some of the harder conversations, some of the political sides of what it means to be a queer person,” said Petties. “We’ve seen in recent times that conversation has been turning to social justice issues and also solidarity with other marginalized people around the world.” The march headed down Elgin Street before going into Centretown, where part of Bank Street has been shut down for a two-day Capital Pride street festival. The march ended with a community gathering at Minto Park involving vendors and food. The Capital Pride parade is on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Ottawa.
