Cambridge, Ont., councillors speak out following mayor’s interruption during Pride event

Several Cambridge councillors ar weighing in followers Mayor Jan Liggett’s controversial displace to interrupt a teen during their speech at a city Pride event last week.

In separate Facebook posts, councillors Scott Hamilton, Sheri Roberts and Corey Kimpson said the experiences and voices of young people and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community matter.

"Our young people deserve to know that their perspectives matter. They deserve opportunities to participate in conversations about the communities they live in and the future they hope to help shape," Kimpson said in her post.

"Ensuring that all residents feel heard and respected is a responsibility we share," she continued.

On June 1, Liggett stopped 17-year-old Sophie Mills in the middle of their speech, after Mills made a reference to a controversial Facebook meme posted by Coun. Adam Cooper last year that made light of pronouns.

A video shared to social media shows Mills starting their speech, but just a few lines into it Liggett stands up from her chair on stage, walks over and moves the microphone away from Mills and says, "Sophie, I'm not going to allow you to continue."

"This is disrespect," Liggett said, speaking into the microphone. "Can you remove that part from your speech please. [Cooper] has already gone through what he needs to go through and I don't think it's helpful."

Mayor stands by decision to cut off teen's Pride event speech

In her response, Coun. Roberts said she was present at the flag raising event and what happened "was deeply troubling."

"This was not a disagreement between adults. It involved a young person sharing their lived experience and perspective," Roberts said.

"Whether we agree with someone's view or not, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, especially our youth."

Kimpson said while the city has made commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as accessibility, effort is required for progress to be made.

"We can and must do better," she said.

Liggett posted a 10-minute video on the Office of the Mayor City of Cambridge Facebook page Friday afternoon in response to the backlash she and her office had received after the incident, saying she was obligated to stop Mill's speech.

"My actions were not about silencing anyone, but of refocusing," Liggett said.

"They were about protecting the integrity of an event that was intended to unite rather than divide. We live in a time when outrage often receives more attention than understanding."

Liggett said Mills's speech had been vetted by city staff and the part about Cooper was added after the fact. She said Mills was expected to give the "same speech they had done the previous weekend at a Pride event."

Cambridge teen speaks out after mayor interrupts Pride speech

"If they had done that, then this would never have happened," she said, adding if she were to apologize that would be between herself and Mills.

In a response to Liggett's comments, Mills said their speech was never vetted by anyone at the city.

Scott Hamilton, who is the councillor on the city's youth advisory committee, said the incident should never have happened and "strongly condemns" Liggett's actions.

Hamilton said Mills spoke bravely during the event.

"I know the courage it takes to speak publicly, especially about deeply personal experiences, and I know how important the voices of youth, and the queer community, are to our city," he said.

Hamilton, who is also running for mayor in October's municipal election, apologized to Mills for the experience they went through during the event.

"But I am grateful for you sharing your story loudly since this incident, and allowing us all to learn from you, so we may move forward with greater understanding and openness," he said.

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