A major rupture is shaking the heart of Montreal’s LGBTQ scene. Several queer and trans organizations have cut ties with Fierté Montréal, the city’s flagship Pride festival, accusing it of fostering a toxic culture and failing to deliver on promises of inclusion and transparency. The split, reported throughout May and June 2025, reflects years of frustration from BIPOC, trans, and grassroots leaders who say they’ve been sidelined.
Community leaders such as Lemrini said, “They don’t tell us what they’re doing, so we cannot know…they’ve shown us that they don’t care about us.”
This deep dissatisfaction has led to the birth of Wild Pride—a bold new festival rejecting corporatized Pride. Its organizers describe it as anti-racist, anti-Zionist, and rooted in the protest origins of Pride. It’s being built by and for those most marginalized: trans folks, queer people of color, and disabled community members.
Lemrini said, “We’re building something new—a separate Pride festival that reflects our values and lived experiences. Is it a festival? Is it a riot? I think it can be all of that. It can be a safe space and we won’t have a choice but to take care of it ourselves—our own Wild Pride.”
Wild Pride will feature rallies, workshops, and cultural events focused on radical inclusion and self-determination. Local groups like Origami Customs are backing the movement. Whether Wild Pride marks a turning point or a permanent split, one thing is clear: Montreal’s queer community is demanding more than rainbows. They’re reclaiming Pride.
