Lesbian Collectives Withdraw Support from Montreal Pride Over Issues

Concerns over unprofessionalism and exclusion have led several lesbian and queer collectives to withdraw their support from Fierté Montréal, the organization responsible for the city’s Pride events. Prominent among these is MESSY, a collective co-founded by Lucia Winter, which experienced significant challenges during its collaboration with Fierté in 2023.

Winter described the partnership, which involved organizing a major lesbian-focused event, as a disheartening experience that culminated in burnout and disillusionment. Initially, she encountered what she viewed as red flags, such as slow communication and delays in contract finalization. These issues became more pronounced when Fierté informed MESSY that it could no longer afford to cover an artist’s travel expenses, opting instead to provide a discount coupon for travel.

Throughout the festival, MESSY faced numerous logistical challenges that it attributes to Fierté’s mismanagement. Issues included artists unable to access their hotel rooms due to a lack of payment arrangements from Fierté and equipment failures during performances. Winter noted that one artist had to stay at her home following a flight cancellation because alternative accommodations could not be arranged.

The discontent culminated in disputes over compensation. MESSY co-founder Ray Resvick expressed frustration over negotiations with Chris Ngabonziza, Fierté’s director of programming, regarding their agreed-upon producer’s fee. “We did so much more than what was agreed on,” he stated, emphasizing the group’s contributions to the event. Following these experiences, MESSY declined a subsequent invitation to collaborate with Fierté.

In response to ongoing grievances, MESSY joined forces with nine other community groups and signed an open letter in early 2025, expressing their concerns about Fierté’s treatment of queer collectives. As Fierté faces scrutiny over its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, some collectives argue that the issues they experienced are indicative of deeper systemic problems.

Alternative Pride celebrations have emerged in Montreal, with events like CTRL + ALT Fest and Wild Pride gaining traction. Winter remarked that while collectives may leave due to feeling misrepresented, the lack of professionalism in their dealings with Fierté has been a significant factor in their withdrawal.

Further allegations have surfaced from other collectives. For instance, Avery Burrow, co-founder of Voulez-Vous Productions, reported that Fierté failed to formalize a contract for their annual drag king workshop, which led to a last-minute cancellation just weeks before the festival. The group was forced to self-fund the workshop, incurring significant financial losses.

Fierté’s executive director, Simon Gamache, acknowledged in a February 2025 letter that the organization has been facing financial challenges and has been operating under a strict recovery plan. Despite managing a budget exceeding $7 million, Burrow expressed skepticism about the allocation of funds, especially noting that a single drag performer could cost around $3,000, while Fierté allocated only $5,000 for 15 artists across multiple events.

The challenges continued for those involved with Fierté, with claims of inadequate support during events and a failure to uphold contractual agreements. Burrow described the experience as “like pulling teeth,” highlighting a lack of promotional assistance and inadequate communication that hindered event success.

In light of these ongoing concerns, Marlot Marleau, the newly appointed chair of Fierté’s board, acknowledged that miscommunication has contributed to some of these issues. He indicated that the organization is working to clarify its contracts and expectations with collaborating partners to prevent future misunderstandings.

The situation took a more serious turn when long-time event producer Carolina Montrose shared her experience of having her event abruptly pulled from Fierté’s programming just two months before it was set to occur. Montrose attributed this cancellation to her previous escalation of concerns regarding an individual she alleged had physically abused her, who had been booked by Fierté.

Montrose expressed disbelief at the organization’s handling of her complaint and suggested that the cancellation was a means of resolving the issue, despite Fierté claiming it was due to an unpaid fee. Marleau, while denying any retaliatory motives, stated that the organization needs to improve its documentation of incidents to better handle similar situations in the future.

Fierté has launched an internal inquiry to address multiple concerns raised by both internal and external parties, inviting those affected to participate. Montrose criticized the outcome of this inquiry, describing the proposed changes as inadequate and stating that no one involved faced any repercussions.

As Fierté navigates these controversies, many within the lesbian and queer community feel that their events and contributions are undervalued. Burrow articulated a broader concern about tokenism, suggesting that the organization seeks to include diverse collectives merely to fulfill representation goals rather than fostering genuine collaboration.

For Winter, Resvick, Burrow, and Montrose, the experiences highlight a troubling trend where lesbian-focused events are deprioritized within the broader framework of Pride celebrations. They assert that without the groundwork laid by these collectives, Pride would not hold the significance it does today.

Marleau, in response to these sentiments, emphasized the organization’s commitment to improving and ensuring that all communities feel represented. He expressed regret that some collectives feel marginalized and reaffirmed that Fierté’s goal is to foster inclusivity rather than exclusion.

As the discussions surrounding Fierté Montréal continue, it remains clear that the path forward will require significant changes to restore trust among the community and ensure that all voices are heard and valued.