Montreal Pride parade will include controversial group

Montreal's gay pride festival organizers will allow a controversial group to march in this year's pride parade, but say they will be monitoring the group's message.

The Toronto-based Queers Against Israeli Apartheid was almost banned from Toronto's pride festival after critics lobbied city council to have it cut from the list of parade participants.

Pride Toronto decided to ban the phrase "Israeli Apartheid" from the event, effectively cutting the controversial group out of the parade.

The move provoked outrage from members of the city's gay community.

Twenty-threepeople who had received various honours from Pride Toronto over the years, including grand marshals, returned their awards in protest.

Pride Toronto organizers then rescinded the ban, and the group was allowed to march in the parade.

Toronto organizers said allowing the group to march cost Pride Toronto about $250,000 in corporate sponsorships.

'We are not going to tell them what to write, but we might tell them how to write it.' Jean-Sbastien Boudreault, VP Montreal Pride

The group has participated in pride parades in both Toronto and Montreal in past years.

Montreal Pride vice-president, Jean-Sbastien Boudreault, said he has communicated with the group and does not have a problem with Queers Against Israeli Apartheid participating in the parade.

Organizers will vet banners

The decision, however, comes with conditions.

"We will let them say what they have to say, but it has to be said in a peaceful and civilized manner," said Boudreault.

"We are not going to tell them what to write but we might tell them how to write it," Boudreault added.

Boudreault says he has not received any complaints from sponsors in Montreal.

Rabbi Ruben Poupko, a member of the Quebec-Israel Committee, said Queers Against Israeli Apartheid should not be banned from the parade, but he believes the group is misguided.

"Israel is a haven for gays in the Middle East," Poupko said.

"It is bizarre that a community dedicated to gay rights should not embrace the only country in the Middle East that in fact upholds that agenda," the rabbi added.

Poupko said he hopes the controversy over the group's participation doesn't overshadow the parade's agenda.