More Than a Festival
The First Ever Wild Pride
Imagine a Pride without any compromise. That’s what the organizers of Wild Pride have dreamed of, and that’s what is taking place starting July 30th. Moving away from the usual Pride commodification of queer pride and queer joy that view our communities as a market to take advantage of every year, Wild Pride is radical, anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, and anti-corporate.
In 2024, Fierté Montreal would not take a clear position against genocide or divest from TD Bank and other corporations or funding linked to Zionist investments. In April of this year, several artistic collectives, Blush, DISCOÑO, MESSY (formerly ElleLui) and Sweet Like Honey, called out Fierté, stating that they would no longer be collaborating with the festival. They wrote that they have "consistently experienced problematic and exploitative behaviours” from Fierté, including a lack of financial transparency, ignoring or downplaying concerns, breaching agreements, making decisions unilaterally that affected the organizations and artists working with them, and more generally using practices that disproportionately harm marginalized artists. Their partnership with SPVM and their silence on Palestine were also denounced in these posts—in 2024, Israeli flags were flown alongside Pride flags, when Zionist groups walked in the parade amidst the ongoing horrors of the genocide. Many queer groups and individuals were upset by these displays, and did not feel safe or represented in this environment.
These call outs—along with an increasing number of organizations deciding to distance themselves from Fierté and end collaborations—created the momentum that led to Wild Pride. Many groups that called out Fierté are supporting this new festival—DISCOÑO and Sweet Like Honey are both collaborating for several events this year. I spoke with Wild Pride organizer and Helem Montreal consultant Samya Lemrini (she/her), who clarified that “The truth is not that we have turned our backs on Fierté, it’s that Fierté has turned its backs on us.” The consensus is that Fierté Montreal is overwhelmingly White, cis-gendered, and male-centric, and that many individuals do not feel welcomed or represented by Fierté and are rejecting it entirely this year. "Our house is on fire,” Samya explained, and Wild Pride stands in solidarity with Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Venezuela, Haiti, trans people, and Jewish people, and all groups who are oppressed and erased by colonial, hegemonic powers.
Wild Pride’s website explains that this Pride is “by and for queer, trans, racialized, Indigenous, neurodivergent, precarious, criminalized, disabled, unhoused, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, asexual, aromantic folks, queer parents, sex workers — all those erased or tokenized elsewhere.” The team stands firm in their assertion that this Pride is a revolt “rooted in intersectional solidarity and grounded in our lived realities.” Wild Pride stands against Zionism and against antisemitism. This is not an oxymoron. Fierté did not make everyone feel welcomed and safe, so a group of determined individuals decided to fix this.
Wild Pride is not funded by governments or private corporations—all the funds were donated or fundraised. As such, they can do whatever they want, with no one to answer to, or compromise with. They are a grass-roots, community-led alternative to corporate Pride, that aligns themselves against these Pride celebrations funded by companies that are complicit in genocide and exploitation. All of the organizers involved are dedicated volunteers, most of whom work full time and have taken this on purely due to their passion and belief in this alternative Pride. The main coordinator is Shannon Thompson (she/her), a communications and project manager at The Coalition of LGBTQ+ Youth Groups and the coalition’s L'Astérisk project. Other organizers include Yara Coussa (they/them) and Aisha Smith (she/her), and the advertising and communications team involves Rafael Lacelle (they/he), Zev Rose (they/he), and Soraya Ghassemlou (she/her). They are all undeniably busy, tired and overworked, but endlessly proud of their programming for this coming month—and for good reason.
An additional complaint repeatedly levied against Fierté Montreal has been that they are not always accessible or welcoming for neurodivergent people, fat bodied people, handicapped people, and BIPOC. Wild Pride aims to be accessible and diverse, incorporating a wide range of events in their program to ensure everyone can find something that aligns with their identities and needs. Their priority is creating spaces that are adapted for us. Accessibility measures have been taken for all events. Every event and venue will have at least two volunteers, harm reduction materials, body hygiene materials (pads, tampons, etc.), snacks, drinks, stim toys, and more. Masks are recommended for all events, and mandatory for some, and the accessibility of each venue is specified on the program.
There are also events centering disabled queer identity. For example, the Day Party & Variety Show on August 8th, partnered with In Pain and Insane, will include “drag performances, songs, poetry, comedy, grief and joy all by, and for, the Disabled/Sick/Mad/Deaf community” which will be “followed by a ‘crip rave’ that prioritizes disabled needs and joys.” Masks will be mandatory, the venue is wheelchair accessible, and there will be other accommodations including stim toys, ASL interpretation, seating, and no flashing lights or loud music.
Wild Pride begins on the evening of July 30th, with the Opening Celebration at Square Saint-Louis, and ends on August 18th with the Closing Ceremony—both ceremonies will involve Indigenous elder Tealey Ka'senni:saks Normandin. The Mélodies & Murmures event on August 7th, partnered with Helem Montreal, will feature international singer Pomme. The closing party will include an appearance by indigenous singer Siibii. Some events are open to all, while others cater specifically to groups such as 2SLGBTQIA+, Sapphic individuals, Trans and Two-Spirit people, sex workers, and QTBIPOC (Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Colour, or racialized 2SLGBTQIA+). For example, the Sapphic Sex-Ed event on August 6th, in partnership with Sweet Like Honey, will be for BIPOC only and catered towards sapphics specifically, while the Conflict Resolution Panel on August 14th in collaboration with BLACK GXRL SESH—a ballroom collective and creative studio for Black Trans Queer People & Black Femmes—is dedicated for black folks only.
The programming includes free and paid events (mostly sliding scale, pay what you can, or low cost), as well as both French and English events. Some events are targeted towards specific groups and identities, while others are open to all. The events are also vastly varied in type, including raves, boxing classes, youth activities, burlesque, a trans legal clinic, yoga classes and sapphic sex education. There is truly an option for everyone.
We need an alternative way to celebrate our identities, without pinkwashing and whitewashing, where our identities will not be used to justify or fund genocide. Samya clarified that “This is more than a festival. This is a rebellion; this is an intifada; this is us saying if Pride doesn’t want to welcome us, we are creating our own spaces.”
Wild Pride is queer joy and queer revolution. From July 30th to August 18th, join us in celebrating, nurturing and creating queer joy at the first ever Wild Pride. Come create our own space.
For more information, visit the Wild Pride website.
WiLD pride march
Why March?
Because our struggles are far from over, still in 2025 - Some have forgotten our roots and traded struggle for respectability. Too many have given in to the recognition of corporations that fund wars, occupations and pipelines - corporations complicit in genocide, from Turtle Island to Palestine. Governments are working to divide us and Toll back trans rights, all whilst blaming the rise of homophobia on other groups of people - as Quebec does through the so-called Comité des sages and by making the Muslim community their scapegoat.
But we haven't forgotten - In 1977, Truxx bar is raided - 146 arrests. In 1990, police raid a queer party at Sex Garage - the street becomes our stage of resistance. Today, our lives are still under attack and we reject sanitized parades funded hy those who oppress us and use “queerness” to futlill their imperialist agendas. We want to offer an unapologetic march, a grieving march, radical, joyful and rooted in our values.
- Wild Pride Organizers
follow wild pride on instagram for parade route updates
If you’re reading Forget The Box, you’re a supporter of free, independent arts coverage. We ask you to take a moment to consider donating $1 to help us continue our mission to spotlight ground level, underground, and marginalized art in Montreal. Every little bit helps.
