Beneath the Rainbow: How Ottawa’s Pride Parade Was Hijacked by Leftist and Islamic Forces (Video)

RAIR was on the scene for Ottawa’s second “Pride” parade of the summer of 2024, a striking example of how things are often not as they seem.

At first glance, the event appeared to be a typical festive gathering. Most participants and onlookers were likely there to enjoy a party without any sinister intentions. However, what we observed went far beyond a simple celebration of “diversity.” The parade revealed how leftist and Islamic ideologies can infiltrate such events, repurposing them for their own causes—namely, the communist revolution and Islamic supremacy.

To understand the implications, let’s first consider Islam as an example. The Quran, often misunderstood due to its non-chronological structure, is not arranged by the sequence of events but from the longest chapter to the shortest. Moreover, Muhammad’s Law of Abrogation dictates that later statements supersede earlier ones. This means that any seemingly positive messages in the Quran may be overridden by more hostile directives found in later chapters. By understanding this, one can see how seemingly benign verses can be eclipsed by more aggressive commands revealed later.

Similarly, the LGBTQ movement has undergone significant shifts. The term “queer,” once a derogatory label for homosexuals, has evolved. As James Lindsay explains, “queer” now refers to anyone, regardless of sexual preference—even straight, white, married individuals—who embraces the weaponization of sexual identity as a means to undermine Western civilization. This redefinition has transformed what was once a movement focused on specific rights into a broader tool for challenging the foundations of Western society.

This dynamic was clearly evident in the Ottawa Pride Parade on August 25, 2024—an event that marked the city’s second Pride parade this summer, despite June being entirely dedicated to Pride celebrations. In this case, both Muslims and communists managed to infiltrate the event, transforming it into something far different from what most participants likely expected.

The messaging was overtly anti-Western, with banners such as “Queers for Palestine” and rhetoric about Canada being built on “stolen land.” This narrative aims to delegitimize Western nation-states, ignoring the historical complexities of territorial conflicts among Indigenous tribes.

The extent of this infiltration was so apparent that several prominent organizations withdrew from the parade, including the Federal Liberals and institutions like the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

The following is a partial list of the organizations that publicly withdrew from the Ottawa Pride Parade Mark II:

• City of Ottawa: The city administration and staff followed the Mayor’s decision and did not participate.
• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board: The school board withdrew its participation.
• University of Ottawa (uOttawa): The university held its own Pride celebration instead of participating in the Capital Pride event.
• Jewish Federation of Ottawa: The organization held a separate Pride breakfast and celebration, citing concerns about safety and inclusivity.
• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario: The hospital did not participate.
• The Ottawa Hospital: The hospital did not participate.
• Montfort Hospital: The hospital did not participate.
• Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre: The hospital did not participate.
• Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est: The French Catholic school board did not participate.
• Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario: The French public school board did not participate.
• Ottawa Tourism: The organization did not participate.
• Bank of Canada: The bank did not participate.
• Loblaw: Although still listed as a sponsor, Loblaw did not participate in the event.

Notably, a man seemingly of Islamic origin, wearing a Palestinian headscarf, marched while carrying a Che Guevara flag. This scene starkly illustrates the paradox of the march: Islamic countries are known for executing homosexuals, while Che Guevara used to round up homosexuals and put them in slave labor camps. Yet, these symbols were paraded together, revealing the deep ideological shifts within the event.

The following clip is from Canada’s narrative network, CTV. Note the language of the interviewee in the Palestinian headscarf at around the 2-minute mark. His use of the word “queer” perfectly aligns with the broader agenda discussed above. He strings together a series of adjectives like “anti-capitalist,” “anti-Zionist,” and others, making it clear that “queer” here serves as a political position—a kind of shepherd for non-standard sexual identities in service of communism.

Although this video is about the parade that took place in Montreal, the groups that pulled out of the Ottawa parade are significant, as they usually show full-throated support for events of this nature.

Throughout the summer, similar events across Canada faced disruptions from communists and anti-Israel activists, altering the nature of the marches. In Ottawa, one man bravely carried an Israeli flag but was surrounded by Palestinian symbols, reflecting the parade’s co-opted message.

Fortunately, there were no significant altercations. A small group of counter-protestors was largely ignored, though some leftist protestors attempted to block their view with flags. Ottawa police, as usual, managed the situation effectively, ensuring the event continued without major incidents.

The individuals who initiated aggression toward the counter-demonstrators were predominantly young, seemingly white college students tightly wrapped in Palestinian headscarves.

With all this in mind, the video below should hold greater significance.

In selecting scenes for this video, we focused on elements that illustrate the ongoing effort to undermine Western civilization through the Pride movement and the progressive normalization of radical leftist and anti-civilizational agendas. While most parade participants were likely well-meaning, fun-loving, law-abiding citizens influenced by today’s dominant culture, it’s important to recognize that this culture—largely driven by leftist ideologies—is continually being pushed further left. This relentless shift threatens to erode our systems, culture, values, and beliefs, steering society toward a path of destruction.