‘Vile’ protest over drag show prompts bigger police presence at Pride picnic
Several police officers were present for a Pride family picnic on Sunday in case a group of anti-LQTBQ protesters disrupted the event.
Police were nearby due to fears the picnic would be disrupted by the same group of anti-LGTBQ religious protesters who interrupted a storytelling event Saturday by local drag queen Adrianna Exposée at the Westcliffe Community Centre in Bells Corners.
“We’re present outside the Hintonburg park today after receiving a request following an unfortunate incident,” said acting Insp. François D’Aoust. “We’re just here to provide presence and ensure that we keep the peace, that there’s no hate speech, and we’re available nearby if required.”
The Family Pride Picnic is held each year at Hintonburg Park as an opportunity for families to enjoy games, ice cream, a splash pad and company, said Toby Whitfield, Capital Pride festival director. Several hundred people were there Sunday.
Attendees were disappointed by the protesters’ actions and said they followed a trend of discrimination at Pride events across Canada.
“I can’t help but notice there are cops everywhere,” said Dave Weatherall. “What other family picnic event in Ottawa requires cops ... as security?”
Politicians and Capital Pride organizers and attendees condemned the Saturday protest
“Capital Pride is concerned with the incidents of yesterday,” Whitfield said. “The festival seeks to build a more inclusive city for everyone. There’s no place for that hatred and violence.”
Nepean MPP Lisa McLeod was at the picnic and said she was disgusted by the Bells Corners incident.
“Not only do I condemn it, but it was sickening that it happened in front of children,” she said. “The good people of Bells Corners would not tolerate that. They’re an accepting society.”
Coun. Jeff Leiper said Saturday’s incident was “extraordinarily disappointing. It’s depressing that this kind of ignorance and hate is still with us in 2019.”
Hannah McGechie, executive director with Ten Oaks Project — a charitable organization that works with children and youth from LGBTQ identities, families and communities who also helped organize the picnic — said she wasn’t surprised by the incident.
“It’s some of the most vile stuff I’ve seen in a while and I’m also not surprised given the climate at a lot of other Pride events,” she said.
Police said they are following up on the incident.
Although officers were nearby, they stayed off the grounds, D’Aoust said. “We don’t want to make it into an overly intrusive police presence,” he said. “It’s a family picnic. We want to let them enjoy without making it seem like a lot of police presence.”
He said staying off the grounds had nothing to do with the Capital Pride 2019 Community Report that said organizers would once again ask police not march in uniform in the Pride parade.
“We’re not prevented from going in,” he said. Several attendees said they supported the organizers’ decision about the parade.
“That’s up to the organizers,” Weatherall said, and Leiper agreed.
“I can see both sides in terms of wanting to be there in uniform,” said attendee Jean Haley. “And otherwise feeling that (police) never supported (LQTBQ members) in the past.”
However, McLeod said she would like the officers to be allowed to march in uniform.
“My preference would be you include everybody. Organizers have made a decision. I continue to support the LQTBQ+ community, Pride as well as our Ottawa police,” McLeod said.
The Pride picnic came a day after Mayor Jim Watson came out as gay — something several attendees were happy to celebrate.
“It is important to have really well-respected leaders like Mayor Watson say openly that they are gay,” Leiper said.
McGechie agreed. “I’m really proud to be living in a city with an openly gay mayor,” she said.
The next events for Capital Pride are flag-raising ceremonies Monday at Gatineau City Hall at 10 a.m. and at Ottawa City Hall at noon. lcarroll@postmedia.com