Queer rights vigil brings politics back to Capital Pride

Candlelighting ceremony reflects on international queer rights abuses

Ottawa’s Capital Pride committee hosted its first queer human rights vigil Aug 20, highlighting the battles yet to be fought internationally and for trans people.

“Some countries couldn’t dream of having an event like this — the police would come down on them so fast,” said Gordon Boissonneault, the chair of Capital Pride.

About 50 people showed up at Ottawa’s human rights monument to listen to speeches from local activists. The vigil was part of Capital Pride, which runs from Aug 17 to Aug 26. Many in the community felt the event brought some much-needed politics back to Pride.

Watch Xtra.ca’s report on the vigil:

For more coverage of Ottawa’s Pride week, check out the Ottawa section of Xtra.ca!

Read More About:
Power, News, Ottawa, Pride

Keep Reading

Xtra Explains: Trans girls and sports

Debunking some of the biggest myths around trans girls and fairness in sports

How ‘mature minor’ laws let trans kids make their own decisions

Canadian law lets some youth make medical or legal decisions for themselves, but how does it work?

To combat transphobia, we need to engage with the people who spread it

OPINION: opening up a dialogue with those we disagree with is key if we want to achieve widespread social change

Democrats are done taking the high road

OPINION: Speakers were fired up at this week’s Democratic National Convention. For queer and trans people, that’s meant a more consistent defence of our rights