‘I made a mistake:’ Cambridge mayor breaks silence on Pride event controversy

Mayor Liggett explained why she interrupted a teen speaking at a city-run Pride event this week. CTV’s Jeff Pickel reports.

Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett has broken her silence following backlash over her decision to interrupt a 17-year-old non-binary youth speaking at a Pride event earlier this week.

In a lengthy public statement, Liggett defended her actions, claiming she was not trying to silence the speaker but was instead trying to prevent “personal attacks” and maintain “decorum and civility” at the city run event.

On Monday Sophie Mills, a member of the city’s Youth Advisory Committee, took the microphone to share their experiences as a queer youth. Mills said they were asked by the city to do so. Mills’ speech was interrupted when they began criticizing Ward 6 Councillor Adam Cooper for sharing a transphobic meme last year.

“Not only did it kind of hurt my ego because this was my first big public speaking opportunity, but it was a direct experience that I now have of being discriminated against by elected authorities,” Mills told CTV News on Tuesday, the day after the event.

Video captured Liggett approaching Mills from behind, grabbing the microphone, and telling them the remarks were “disrespectful,” asking them to remove that portion of the speech.

“Refocusing, Not Silencing”

In her statement, Mayor Liggett argued that the ceremony had become “overshadowed by issues and grievances that have been the subject of public debate for more than a year.”

According to the mayor, the city’s expectation was for the event to be positive and uplifting.

She claimed that Mills changed their agreed-upon speech that morning without notifying staff, following a call from local organization Grand River Pride to boycott the city’s event.

“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... City events are not intended to serve as venues for demonstrations, protests, or activities that disrupt the purpose of an event.”

Liggett also addressed the discipline process regarding Councillor Cooper, noting that the independent integrity commissioner’s investigation had already concluded with a formal council reprimand and mandatory sensitivity training.

“The results of the investigation have been completed... and continuing to relive the same divisions is not helpful and serves no one,” Liggett said. “I am one individual on council and I do not have the authority to dismiss nor discipline councillors, nor choose penalties.”

Wrong pronouns and death threats

The mayor described what she said happened after the cameras stopped rolling. She stated that she moved the microphone back to Mills so they could finish their speech and said the two shared a hug before raising the Pride flag together.

Liggett said that was when Mills told Liggett she had used the incorrect pronouns.

“Immediately I explained to them that using they/them pronouns was not part of my everyday vocabulary and I ‘committed to be mindful,’” Liggett said in the statement. “I misspoke when I used the wrong pronoun. I made a mistake and I will likely continue to make mistakes. To err is human.”

Liggett said that since the incident, her office has been getting abusive messages, including harassing calls, emails, and death threats directed at her family and city staff.

“The very people that are accusing us of not being kind are not being kind themselves,” Liggett said. “While accountability is important, so too is grace.”

Divided community

For Mills, the experience on Monday remains a painful memory. Mills described the interruption as “scary and humiliating.”

“They asked me to share what I would like to be done about the community and then when I said something that they did not want me to say, they silenced me, they censored me,” Mills said.

The controversy has caused a rift between the City of Cambridge and the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Grand River Pride officials have boycotted the city’s official flag-raising, calling it “performative” and accusing administration of a “lack of accountability.”

Instead, the group hosted their own separate flag-raising event where Mills was invited to deliver their full, unedited speech.

“It was completely different, I was a lot more comfortable there,” Mills said.

Liggett maintains her stance to “remain neutral.”

Mayoral candidate condemns mayor’s actions

Mayoral candidate and city councillor Scott Hamilton weighed in on the controversy on his social media page.

“This should never have happened. I strongly condemn the actions taken by Mayor Liggett during the pride flag raising ceremony,” he said.

Hamilton has worked on Cambridge’s Youth Advisory Committee and has worked with Mills and other young leaders in the community.

He said anyone invited to share their words at a public event should know their voice in valued and he believes they should be able to speak authentically and openly.

“A healthy community is not built on everyone agreeing. It is built on people knowing they can share their experiences and be treated with dignity, even when others see the world differently. Public conversation should be grounded in decency, not division or hostility,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said he was sorry that Mills had to experience what they did.

“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.

Teen points to power imbalance

After seeing Liggett’s reaction, Mills said their speech was not causing division but was instead addressing the division that already existed.

“My speech was never vetted,” Mills said, explaining the remarks were amended after watching council footage of Councillor Cooper showing “no remorse” for his actions. “It wasn’t demanding council change their decision, but a statement of how I felt about the situation. If Mayor Jan Liggett had let me continue, she would know that.”

Mills also rejected the mayor’s defense regarding using the wrong pronouns, noting that gender-non-conforming pronouns should be part of a public official’s daily life.

“Mayor Jan Liggett is my mayor too, she is employed by citizens as a civil servant, and thus I am part of her life,” Mills said.

In response to the hug Liggett mentioned they shared, Mills said it was given with permission but doesn’t reflect their true feelings.

“It should be noted that I was in a vulnerable position with a clear power dynamic at play,” Mills said. “It also felt like she was blaming me — the child in the situation — instead of taking any accountability for her actions.”

Mills said they should be allowed to criticize the government at a Pride event.

“Trying is not the issue. It’s what happens after the error or harm has occurred. That is where the City of Cambridge is failing,” Mills said.