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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Sexuality stigma still strong

Annual parade just one way to show pride

By: Carol Sanders

Posted: 03/30/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

More than 20 years after participants of Winnipeg's first Pride parade hid their identities under paper bags, a debate rages in the gay community over whether there is too much exposure at the annual event.

"A comment was made that we're cracking down on vulgarity and nudity, and that wasn't true," said Barb Burkowski, chairperson for Winnipeg Pride. She said news articles in the gay media saying the parade has banished drag queens, for instance, have "twisted" the intention of parade organizers.

"It wouldn't be a parade without them," said Burkowski. "It wouldn't exist."

The controversy began after police approached the Pride committee with a vague obscenity complaint from an anonymous person about last year's parade, and Burkowski said they decided to acknowledge it.

"When police officers mention something to you, it's probably best to acknowledge it -- without, by any means, crushing the creativity or sexuality of anyone -- that's the driving force of our parade," she said.

"We put a line in the parade forum asking (participants) to remember this is a 'family-friendly' event."

Some took exception to that, because it's a term that's been used by conservative Christians to criticize the lifestyle of gay members of the community.

They're now describing the parade as an "all-ages" event, she said.

A young woman taunted outside her school this month said the whole point of the Pride parade is to stand up for who you are.

"A lot of people don't realize that homophobia and homophobic people still exist," said Meagan Dorge, 15, who wants the public to know it's not acceptable behaviour.

"If you don't talk about it, that tells people it's OK."

Dorge took part in her first Pride parade last summer, and didn't have a problem with the freaky, outlandish outfits that some say misrepresent the gay community.

"There are those people who say 'You shouldn't be doing that'," said the Grade 10 student who identifies herself as "queer."

"I think it's good for people who are kept quiet 364 days a year to get out and be who they are."

Bare-buttock leather chaps, though, may be a bit much for an afternoon all-ages outing downtown, she said.

The tone of the parade isn't Dorge's biggest concern these days, however. The Churchill High School student was leaving school with a friend (who is straight) when they were confronted by three young men making homophobic slurs. She confronted the strangers who were hanging around outside the school waiting for their girlfriends who are students.

Dorge said she told them she was "a proud member of the queer community" and went inside the school to report the incident. "They took off as soon as they saw I was going inside," she said.

She was told there's little that can be done because the homophobic bullies don't attend the school and had been earlier chased off school property.

Dorge said she knows too many people who silently took the bullying, and the insults eventually escalated to physical attacks. She urges people to speak out right away.

"Tell somebody. Tell everybody who will listen... That's how it's going to change."

In 1987, about 250 people marched in Winnipeg's first Pride Day parade. The stigma over sexual orientation prompted some to march with paper bags over their heads to hide their identities.

Today, hundreds take part without paper bags. In fact, some participants try to outdo each other in their daring.

Still, Burkowski noted, Winnipeg's parade is relatively tame.

The problem is that the outlandish minority gets the majority of the public's and media's attention.

"They're the ones getting on the front page," said Burkowski.

"We want people to realize we're all really normal people, and we're all around you."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 30, 2009 A2

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