Canadian TransFest canceled after pro-Gaza LGBTQ activists slam organizers for Zionism

Aaron Devor, chair of Transgender Studies at the University of Victoria, had been an early sponsor and featured speaker for TransFest. According to posts on Reddit, concerns arose after it was discovered that Devor’s spouse had posted what critics described as “hateful Zionist” content on social media. Once those posts circulated, vendors, sponsors, and attendees began pulling their support.

“Once vendor sponsors [and] attendees saw that his wife was tweeting hateful Zionist stuff everyone started pulling out, including the majority of the volunteers on the organizing committee,” one Reddit thread claimed. “One organizer refused to back down and stood with the Zionist speaker.”

The controversy triggered a cascade effect: sponsors and volunteers, including nearly the entire organizing committee, resigned, leaving just one organizer still backing Devor’s participation.

A statement posted on social media confirmed the cancellation: “It is with great sadness that we inform you that TransFest has been cancelled. TransFest was conceived as a place of music, joy, performance, and celebration of trans+ life. Sadly, a small group of dedicated pro-Palestinian activists have decided to demand that TransFest take a stand on the war in Gaza. Founder Francis Riley has refused to capitulate to their demands. The municipality of Saanich has become concerned about the controversy and has cancelled the necessary permits. Vendor fees will be refunded.”

Observers have noted the irony in the situation: activists boycotting TransFest in the name of solidarity with Palestinians are opposing Israel’s fight against Hamas, a group that has a long record of persecuting members of the LGBTQ community in Gaza. By contrast, Israel remains the only country in the Middle East where LGBTQ individuals enjoy full legal rights, with Tel Aviv hosting the region’s largest and most visible Pride parade each year.

Municipal officials confirmed that permits were revoked due to safety concerns, specifically the potential for protests surrounding the event. The decision effectively ended any possibility of TransFest moving forward.