On August 2nd, 1987, a significant event took place at the Manitoba Legislative Building. A crowd of 250 people had gathered, anxiously waiting to hear the provincial government’s decision on whether to include sexual orientation in the Manitoba Human Rights Code. The code already prohibited discrimination based on traits like ancestry, sex, and family status. The addition of sexual orientation would extend protection to individuals who had previously faced discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. If the government officials voted in favor of the inclusion, the assembled crowd would march in triumph to celebrate the long-awaited victory. In the unfortunate event that the vote did not pass, the group would march in protest to demand equality and justice for all citizens.
Thankfully, the provincial government voted in favor of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, which sparked the first Pride Parade in Winnipeg.
Current Day
Decades later, Winnipeg’s Pride has evolved from a one-day event to a ten-day festival full of activities beginning at the end of May and going till early June! Four significant events happen over the week and are all organized and hosted by Pride Winnipeg, a local non-profit organization dedicated to creating an annual festival that advocates for equality and celebrates the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Here is what is taking place:
- May 26th at noon – Flag raising at the City Hall: Pride season begins with the Rainbow Flag being raised at City Hall on the Friday by the City Mayor, Pride Winnipeg President, and another special guest!
- June 3rd and 4th at noon – Festival at the Forks: Featuring a variety of engaging vendors, artisans, workshops, other entertainment, and a welcoming atmosphere! There are also over 50 performers performing live on the stages outside throughout the day that you will want to check out! To see the lineup, visit pridewinnipeg.com/programming-artists/!
- June 4th at 10:00 AM – Rally: Becoming an annual tradition since 1987 and honoring the first 250 people who gathered at the Legislative that day, the Rally takes place in front of the Legislative and usually includes motivational speeches from representatives and other special guests.
- June 4th at 11:00 AM – Pride Parade: Beginning at Memorial Park and making its way through downtown Winnipeg before stopping at the Forks, thousands of people with decorative floats and costumes are to join in this year’s dazzling Pride Parade!
From the end of May until September, 45 different community events will also take place for Winnipeg’s Pride! Dances, workshops, summer camps, art exhibits, music venues, comedy shows, and much more will be all over the city during Pride Month! Visit pridewinnipeg.com/community-events/ for more information!
Being a part of these events supports the 2SLGBTQ+ community and shows solidarity, contributing to a sense of belonging for all individuals. We must also commemorate those who have dedicated and lost their lives to the equal rights movement, as without their fearlessness and pride, we would not have events like this today to celebrate.
If you cannot participate in person, there are other ways for you to show support! Consider donating to local 2SLGBTQ+ organizations such as Pride Winnipeg , The Rainbow Resource Center, and The Rainbow Harmony Project !
Invite your family and friends to join this year’s 2023 Winnipeg Pride!
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Your Vialux Team
