Mayor’s Disruption of Teen’s Pride Speech Sparks Controversy

A video featuring Cambridge, Ont., Mayor Jan Liggett cutting off a teenager’s speech at a Pride event is causing quite a stir.

Sophie Mills, who was invited to speak at the Pride flag-raising ceremony on Monday at city hall, told that the experience “really sucked.”

“That was my first big opportunity for speaking and it was scary because I had no control there. I am a teenager, I’m a child and she is an elected official,” Mills said regarding the mayor.

Mills, who uses they/them pronouns, watched a council meeting on Oct. 14, 2025 and decided to adjust their speech to express how Ward 6 Coun. Adam Cooper’s controversial Facebook post from January 2025 impacted them.

WATCH | Sophie Mills shares their experience with CBC after mayor interrupts speech:

Cambridge teen speaks out after mayor interrupts Pride speech

This week, Pride flags were raised across the region, including in Cambridge. However, what was meant to be a celebration of inclusivity turned sour when Mayor Jan Liggett interrupted 17-year-old Sophie Mills during their address after they referenced Councillor Adam Cooper’s contentious Facebook post.

The post featured a meme showing someone with blue hair yelling at the camera. The caption read: “He took my pronouns! I have to live in reality now!” which hinted at U. S. President Donald Trump’s executive order reversing several protections for 2SLGBTQ+ rights.

In footage of Mills giving their speech, Mayor Liggett stands up from her seat, approaches Mills and takes away the microphone.

“Sophie, I’m not going to allow you to continue. This is disrespect,” Liggett stated 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.”

In October 2025, council announced that Cooper would need to undergo sensitivity training after the integrity commissioner found he violated council’s code of conduct.

Online comments express support for teen

Mills’s mother, Julia, posted the city hall speech video on Instagram which sparked supportive comments from viewers.

contacted Liggett’s office and received word that the mayor “appreciates the opportunity to share what transpired and your understanding that she is not able to respond by the outlined deadline. A fulsome response is forthcoming. The mayor has been in council and corporate meetings for the past two days and is currently unable to respond.”

Cambridge Coun. Adam Cooper faced backlash and disciplinary action for his Facebook post made in January 2025. (City of Cambridge)

Cooper’s meme went viral among members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community who labeled it as hate speech and transphobic.

The post was eventually removed from Cooper’s page.

Eric Bolton, co-founder of Grand River Pride, previously shared with that he commented on the post hoping it would be taken down by Cooper.

However, Cooper defended his actions saying, “Dude, respect others opinions. Be better than your comment.”

In an email back then, Liggett told : “The implications within the meme have brought distress and pain to families and members of our community.” She also noted that Cooper’s post “does not represent council nor the corporation’s thoughts on gender fluidity.”

The integrity commissioner’s report concluded that “While the councillor has defended the meme as a form of political debate that used humour to assert a point, we instead have determined that the meme within the Facebook post demeaned a specific group of individuals so as to make them feel secondary or devalued.”

Teen made another ‘powerful’ speech

Mills gave another talk later on Monday. A video captured them speaking at Grand River Pride’s separate flag-raising event on Lower Main St. in Cambridge.

Mills informed that Liggett had “censored” them during their earlier appearance.

Mills described their second address as “more powerful.” They explained: “I was able to take my time and have a more meaningful speech because I’m able to have those pauses without being worried that I’m going to get censored and silenced.

I was given the space to say my whole speech.”Bryan Causarano-Bolton and Eric Bolton are co-founders of Grand River Pride in Cambridge. Causarano-Bolton expressed surprise yet understanding about Liggett’s behavior saying: “I’m both shocked and not surprised.”

“Shocked because I couldn’t believe that the mayor was at it again. I couldn’t believe she was taking away someone’s right to freedom of speech but also not surprised because that’s just been how things are between her office and our Pride community,” he added.

Causarano-Bolton mentioned Grand River Pride has been facing challenges with their relationship with city officials due in part to unclear communication surrounding Cooper’s reprimand along with his sensitivity training requirement.

‘Not my ideal community’

reached out again for confirmation about details regarding sensitivity training but did not receive any answers before publication deadlines approached. also tried contacting Cooper for comments but received no reply either.

Causarano-Bolton remarked Grand River Pride “would love nothing more than continuing our relationship” with local government but stated:

“Until we see some changes happen or until Liggett apologizes for her treatment towards Sophie specifically-it’s tough seeing how this partnership could work.”

Mills feels they didn’t deserve what happened during their performance on stage.
“I’ve lived here forever-I’m really involved in this community,” they said. “I volunteer at city hall sometimes; I’m part of our youth advisory committee; helping kids means everything since I’ve always loved working with them.”
“I’m an active member here; this isn’t how things should be treated.”

Source link