Winnipeg, Manitoba – June 8, 2022 – Pride Winnipeg condemns Premier Stefanson for going back on her word of walking along side members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community at the annual Pride Parade this past weekend.
After the 2019 Pride Parade, the Board of Directors created a policy in which all leaders who are invited to speak at the annual Pride Rally are expected to walk in the parade immediately following.
“The Premier’s office confirmed not once, but three times in multiple meetings, that Premier Stefanson would walk in the parade,” said Barry Karlenzig, President of Pride Winnipeg. “Not only has she gone back on her word to our board, but also to our 2SLGBTQ+ community. We will not allow this to happen again. Her office also prohibited us from gathering on the north lawn of the Manitoba Legislature Building due to alleged safety concerns, instead pushing us to the west lawn farther away from the parade lineup, minimizing our community’s voices.”
“The Premier is supposed to represent all of her constituents and this weekend she showed that she does not stand with the 2SLGBTQ+ community. She completed her speech and then left, just like her predecessor Brian Pallister did for multiple years”.
Pride Winnipeg will not allow the current government to utilize the annual Pride Rally as a photo op, or to take up space in our community events without walking along side us to truly show full support for our community. We expect our political leaders to stand with our community and truly show they support the community at large.
We are expecting an apology to not just Pride Winnipeg, but to our entire 2SLGBTQ+ community at large for this gross lack of respect for our community. We deserve better.
Pride Winnipeg will not be extending an invitation to Premier Stefanson to speak at any of the 2023 Pride festivities, including the Rally, due to the blatant disrespect shown to our community.
About Pride Winnipeg
Pride Winnipeg’s mission is to live in a society in which all gender, sexual, and relationship diverse individuals can live their lives without fear or oppression for being themselves. Pride Winnipeg creates an annual festival that is reflective of our values, advocates for equality, and celebrates Winnipeg’s GSRD communities. For more information about Pride Winnipeg, please visit www.pridewinnipeg.com.