The annual Winnipeg Pride Festival had its most successful parade ever this year, with 36 floats and walking groups and over 10,000 participants turning up for the June 6th event.
“Despite changes to some of the specifics, we generally are doing what we’ve always done — planning a rally, parade, festival and dance party as well as the flag-raising at City Hall,” said Scott Carman, media coordinator for Pride Winnipeg.
“So even though the appearances of Pride this year were a bit different than years past, we are basically doing what we’ve always done — just on a bigger and better scale,” he said.
Carman explained that the parade is a celebration of Winnipeg’s diverse community.
“We need to have these Pride celebrations every year because they are an opportunity for us to be thankful of the progress we have made in this country regarding equal rights, and [are] a good reminder that gays, lesbians and transsexuals in other countries aren’t as lucky as we are,” said Carman.
“While we have won many victories, we need to continue fighting for equality and justice and bring awareness to the uneducated.”
Sean Gee, a University of Manitoba student and volunteer marshal for the parade, said he decided to volunteer because he wanted to show he was proud of who he was and feels that Pride is important to the LGBTT* community.
“Its important because historically we haven’t had a chance to express who were are,” said Gee.
“Having a whole parade dedicated to being who we are is really important to celebrate.”
University of Manitoba Students’ Union LGBTT* representative Jesse Fidelack also feels the parade is important because it’s a demonstration of people’s individuality, and that UMSU comes out and to show their support.
“We’re here to basically allow students awareness that we support their choices in life,” said Fidelack.
“We support wherever a student is at, whether they are lesbian, gay, transsexual, transgender, astrix or queer. We’re here as a support.”
There were few major changes to the parade this year, for example the festival held afterwards was at the Forks for the first time and included a beer tent.
The parade has grown substantially since the 1986 event, which consisted of a march of approximately 50 people, including former mayor Glenn Murray, who wanted to get sexual orientation protected in the Manitoba Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In 1987, after the legislation was adopted, the march became more of a celebration of the progress made the year before.
“Things have evolved from there. Sometimes that history has been forgotten, but we must never forget our political roots,” said Carman.
“We on the Pride committee are not just party planners. There is a purpose behind what we do.”
