Proud to March in Pride
May 30, 2012
bond, chacun, diversity, pride, wayne
In 1987, about 250 brave people took part in Winnipeg’s first Pride Day. This June 3, I will be attending Winnipeg’s 25th Pride celebration.
Today, more than 30,000 people attend the 10-day Pride Festival, which celebrates Manitoba’s LGBTTQ community. The MGEU’s Equity and Human Rights Committee is celebrating this 25th anniversary by becoming a Silver Sponsor.
Many times people who have never been to Pride wonder what is being celebrated. For myself, being gay is not what I am proud of; that would be like being proud of having hazel eyes. So I have made a list of why I am celebrating Pride:
• I am proud of choosing to be out, and of living my life openly;
• I am proud of living in a country where I was able to marry my husband;
• I am proud of my friends and family for standing by me and supporting me as I came out;
• I am proud of the labour movement for supporting the equality of all individuals;
• I am proud of people who fought for the rights I now enjoy;
• I am proud of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
• I am proud of Pierre Elliot Trudeau for decriminalizing homosexuality;
• I am proud of everyone who lives their life openly;
• I am proud of people who fight for rights in countries where it is a death sentence to be openly gay;
• I am proud of all the straight people who support the GLBT community;
• I am very proud of the MGEU for being a Silver Sponsor of Winnipeg Pride;
These are just some of the reasons I why I celebrate Pride.
I believe that organizations and unions like ours realize the important role they have to play in fostering fair and tolerant workplaces and communities. I’m very proud of our committee and our union for throwing their support behind this event for the first time.
Everyone is welcome to attend: gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, two spirited or straight ally. We will be carrying the MGEU banner, and I hope to see you at Winnipeg’s Pride this June 3.
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