OUTniagara withdraws support from Canada Summer Games

OUTniagara is withdrawing its support from the Canada Summer Games, which includes attendance at Pride Day, in solidarity with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Earlier this month, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation withdrew from the Games, citing disrespect, lateral violence, and a failed attempt at reconciliation when Games organizers hired a consultant to create a memorandum of understanding instead of communicating directly with First Nations communities.

“OUTniagara’s mission is to support and advocate for our partners, particularly people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour,” says co-chair Celeste Turner. “It is important to us as an organization that by working together, we strive to advance anti-oppression, decolonization and liberation for all.”

“One of OUTniagara’s major tenets is to stand in solidarity with others who are still subjugated to injustice at the hands of this colonial system,” says co-chair Kerry Goring. “We must call out these offenses and act accordingly to continue to uphold our values as an organization. This circumstance is one of those times.”

Both co-chairs stressed that the decision to withdraw support from the Canada Summer Games is OUTniagara’s alone, and that there’s no expectation that other Niagara 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations step back from the Games.

The Canada Summer Games begin Saturday, Aug. 6, and end Sunday, Aug. 21.