Hundreds take part in Steinbach Pride festivities

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This article was published 26/06/2023 (859 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Throngs of people, Steinbach Pride chair Chris Plett estimates 800 or thereabouts, were present at this year’s Pride festivities at Steinbach’s K.R. Barkman Park on Sunday.

Plett said that he estimated that attendance this year was on the high end of what is usual, with the lowest turnout they remember being approximately 500. The initial event in 2016 drew 5,000 marchers.

When asked what motivated them to come out, many participants said that a desire to show support for the local LGBTTQ+ was their main motivator.

“This is my third time (at Steinbach Pride),” said attendee Jeanette Giesbrecht, who came with her family. “I have friends and family in the Pride community who I support and love.”

Giesbrecht said that although she came from Winnipeg, she has relatives and friends in Steinbach.

“I’m just here to support the community and all these lovely people out here just enjoying the day and expressing their freedom,” said attendee Gord Meneer, vice-president of CUPE board 998, who mentioned he works in the area.

The day began at 1 p.m. with speeches from Kyle Penner, pastor at the local LGBTTQ+-friendly Grace Mennonite Church, high school student and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) president of the nearby community of Vita, Alex Appleby, and Steinbach Pride chair, Chris Plett.

Appleby noted they were the first student at their school to come out as non-binary.

“The reason I’ve been able to keep fighting for the GSA and the right to put up safe space cards and Pride flags is because I know I’m fighting for people who need it. If there had been a GSA when I was younger…I would not have struggled as much as I have,” Appleby said, speaking on the importance of GSAs in small communities.

Penner spoke of the importance of building bridges between religious communities and the LGBTTQ+ community.

“I know that me being here is triggering to some of you, because there have often been churches that have kicked you out, it’s been pastors who have tried to pray the gay away and it’s religion that has been used as a bludgeon against you,” Penner said.

“You do not have to choose between being Christian and being queer. You do not have to choose between your religion and your sexuality. You do not have to choose between your faith and your gender. You do not have to choose. Those are not opposites… We were all made in God’s image,” Penner said at the end of his speech.

Plett emphasized that because of the recent homophobic incidents such as the attempted book ban in Brandon, and a more recent campaign in Carman, as well as developments in the United States, Pride events like the one held in Steinbach were especially important.

A parade around the town ensued, which lasted from about 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., concluding and ending at K.R. Barkman Park. There were no organized protests of the parade, despite fears that it might happen.

As in previous years, no local politicians were present at the parade, however Plett mentioned that informal invitations were extended to Mayor Earl Funk and MLA Kelvin Goertzen, and that the Steinbach Pride has a positive relationship with both.

Prominent Conservative MLAs, including Premier Heather Stefanson, were present at the Winnipeg Pride parade.

The day before the parade, a drag brunch was held by the organization Band of Colours, an LGBTTQ+ resource centre in Steinbach similar to the Rainbow Resource Centre in Winnipeg, at the local United Church. It was interrupted by protesters who mistook the event for a “drag storytime hour” and accused attendees and organizers of being pedophiles.

“We found out most of them weren’t even from Steinbach, they were from the surrounding area and a few from Winnipeg… We did have the police there to help us out so I think the presence of the police stopped them from doing anything aggressive,” said Angelica Brunger, facilitator of Band of Colours.

Brunger added that the protesters didn’t come onto the property and dispersed a half hour before the event ended.

Tamara Martens, treasurer for Steinbach Pride, said because of the recent homophobic behaviour surrounding other Pride events in Manitoba, such as the destruction of Pride decorations at the United Church in Morden, the board had taken extra security precautions and this year were escorted to and from the event by the RCMP in a police patrol vehicle.

“For our organization and for myself personally, I haven’t seen the regression specifically except for what everyone is seeing across the board for this year. This year is very different for some reason… I don’t know where this is coming from. It seems like there’s a resurgence of aggression,” Martens said.

Martens added that the aggression doesn’t seem to be reflective of most of the population of Steinbach because the general population seems more accepting and support for the parade has grown.

Steinbach Pride has become more involved in the Steinbach community, by having a booth at Steinbach’s Summer in the City festival, and they have also cultivated links with the wider Manitoban LGBTTQ+ community by having a booth at Winnipeg Pride.

Martens said the majority of the fundraising for Steinbach Pride is generated by individual donations from people and organizations, but that they are looking to do more fundraising events year-round.

As an example of the growth of Steinbach Pride, this year’s Pride included performers after the conclusion of the parade in addition to the parade and rally themselves.

Graham.McDonald@freepress.mb.ca