Premier on defensive over Pride parade absence

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This article was published 08/06/2022 (833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson is no longer welcome at Pride Winnipeg events after the Progressive Conservative leader failed to march in Sunday’s parade. 

The premier’s office lied to organizers and the LGBTTQ+ community when it confirmed on multiple occasions that Stefanson would march alongside parade participants, said Pride Winnipeg president Barry Karlenzig.

After Stefanson delivered remarks at the annual rally on the west lawn of the Manitoba Legislative grounds, the premier did not join the small cohort of Tory caucus members who walked in the parade, Karlenzig said.

“It’s a breach of trust. As a community organization, we’re not going to put up with it,” Karlenzig said in an interview with the Free Press.

In 2019, the organization adopted a policy to ensure all political leaders invited to speak at the annual Pride rally would also march in the parade immediately afterward. The policy was developed, partly, in response, to former premier Brian Pallister’s tendency of speaking at the rally and making a swift departure, Karlenzig said.

Karlenzig insisted the premier’s office was made aware of the policy and Pride Winnipeg agreed to accommodate Stefanson’s schedule, which only permitted her to walk part of the parade route.

“We had multiple meetings with that office and as chair of the board I was lied to,” Karlenzig said.

“We were told as a community, and we were proud to announce to the community, Premier Stefanson has confirmed she will walk in the parade. Not only have you lied to me, you’ve lied to our community.”

Stefanson was unable to attend the parade due to a scheduling conflict and a miscommunication between her staff and Pride Winnipeg organizers, she said in a statement sent to media.

“I want to sincerely apologize to Pride Winnipeg and the 2SLGBTQ+ community for not being able to join in the march portion of Sunday’s events,” the statement said.

As of Thursday morning, neither the premier nor anyone from her office had reached out to Pride Winnipeg to offer an apology, Karlenzig said. However, apology or not, Stefanson will not be invited to future Pride Winnipeg events, he said.

“That bridge has been burnt. We’re supposed to be the voice for those socially excluded groups during Pride season, and those socially excluded groups right now have no trust in the premier.”

Following an unrelated media event on the Health Sciences Centre campus on Thursday, Stefanson told reporters she did not know it was a requirement to be in the parade and her staff did not relay the message. She reiterated her apology. 

“I was not aware of that. Had I been, I would have no problem being there and doing this,” she said.

Prior to the Pride Winnipeg rally, Stefanson attended the Love You Run for Women in support of the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba. After the rally, she went to a meet and greet at the Maples Community Centre hosted by the Maples Seniors Indo-Canadian Society Inc., where Ministers Jon Reyes and Andrew Smith were also in attendance.

Stefanson said her office reached out to Pride Winnipeg and she wants to schedule a meeting with the organization. It would have been disrespectful to leave part way through the parade to attend another event, she added.

“I think it was a miscommunication. I want to ensure that we try and build back that relationship,” Stefanson said.

Words will not be enough to repair this breach of trust, said Karlenzig.

“As a grassroots organization, we started as a protest. There is still protesting every day because there isn’t equal rights for everyone. When our heads of government say one thing to us, and then just show up for a photo op and leave, how do we know they’re supporting our community?” he said.

“If you are truly a supporter of the community, prove it.”

Asked if there is anything her government could do to show support for the LGBTTQ+ community, Stefanson said her office has reached out to Pride Winnipeg and she looks forward to a meeting.