In an August 16 column in The Ottawa Citizen, a writer under the pseudonym David Wadih provided a masterclass in evasive writing. Entitled: “Queer Arabs are pro-Pride and pro-Palestinian,” his column stated that he “takes issue with the recent opinion piece by writer Charlie Senack critiquing Capital Pride’s solidarity with Palestine.”

In the original commentary, Senack, a member of Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ community, outlined how the support of Capital Pride for Palestine runs counter to his hope that the Pride events taking place in Canada’s capital this summer would feel open to all equally. Senack further expressed surprise, even disbelief, that Capital Pride would go so far as to accuse Israel of pinkwashing when the human rights records of Hamas is so problematic.

The central argument that Senack made is that Pride must be a safe place for all, and outside politics must be kept to a minimum in order to ensure that safety and feeling of inclusion. For their part, Capital Pride usually appears to believe the same thing. The news section of the Capital Pride website lists the media releases from the group over the last year. Out of seven total media releases in the past 12 months, none take a position or even mention a single other conflict taking place throughout the world.

Just this past April, Iraq passed a bill criminalizing homosexual relations and gender transitions, with sentences of up to fifteen years in prison, after a first draft which initially provided for the death penalty. Silence from Capital Pride.

In August 2023, Kuwait adopted a so-called “decency law” that aims to punish members of the LGBTQ+ community with fines, imprisonment, and “treatment.” This was again met by silence from Capital Pride.

In December 2023, Human Rights Watch reported that “authorities in Jordan have systematically targeted LGBTQ+  rights activists and coordinated an unlawful crackdown on free expression and assembly around gender and sexuality.” Again, silence from Capital Pride.

And yet, Wadih claimed that Senack employs “double standards around queer narratives,” when it seems clear that the double standard canard should be lobbed firmly back in Capital Pride’s court, and those who are defending their position.

While Senack declined to take a specific position on the Hamas-Israel war, he was more clear minded on his assertion that Capital Pride is “creating a further divide in an already polarized world.” Opinions abound on the current conflict, and no one was asking for Capital Pride to take a stand.

Wadih sees the issue differently. “Ask any queer Arab from the diaspora and I’m sure they’ll agree with this sentiment,” Wadih wrote, “the struggle for Palestinian liberation is inherently linked to the fight for queer liberation,” and goes so far as to say that “Senack’s arguments actively endanger and misrepresent queer Arab voices.”

Senack did not comment from the point of view of a “queer Arab voice.” It is quite unclear how he can be accused of misrepresenting their views. He did speak as a member of the queer community, but unlike Wadih, he did not claim to speak for his entire group.

Wadih’s repeated exclamations that the queer Arab diaspora supports “Palestinian liberation” and stands in solidarity with Capital Pride’s position is ultimately irrelevant to this whole discussion. His claims of pinkwashing ring hollow to any reader even minimally informed on the state of LGBTQ+ rights throughout the Middle East. The queer Arab diaspora can support whomever they want. Such is the privilege of being in the diaspora and no longer living under the tyranny of Islamic extremist regimes. Even so, Wadih is only the pseudonym for the author, who chooses to remain anonymous for fear of his sexuality being exposed.

Capital Pride has seen its public support evaporate almost overnight in the wake of its statement precisely because of their problematic claims. Public and private sector sponsors and participants in Capital Pride events have rescinded their support and participation in the wake of the August 6 statement.

Wadih now finds himself standing with an increasingly marginal group of voices screaming about Israel’s supposed human rights violations, while shutting their eyes and ears to every other instance of abuse worldwide.

Former participants in Capital Pride, such as the Liberal Party of Canada, have stated their intention to participate in alternate events to those organized by Capital Pride. If Wadih was truly interested in the rights of the LGBTQ+, as he claims to, he would be standing firmly with Israel and against Hamas, a homophobic and genocidal terrorist organization.