Uniform decision takes military out of Pride march

Pride Winnipeg’s president says 17 Wing Winnipeg’s decision not to send a military contingent to this year’s pride parade because of a ban on uniforms shows the military’s true colours.

Ahead of Sunday’s annual parade, Pride Winnipeg said it had banned military personnel in uniform based on community consultations and feedback. President Barry Karlenzig said the ban was supposed to apply only for this year’s march, and military members were welcome to come wearing everyday clothes, including branded T-shirts or golf shirts.

In response, 17 Wing Winnipeg pulled out of its participation in the parade.

“It has me sit back and say, ‘Is the military in the parade for the right reasons?’ Same as what we ask with police, same as what we ask with corporate partners, is you should be there for the community and to support the community. Are you there to support the community or are you there for the photo ops?” Karlenzig said Wednesday.

The uniform ban was due to ongoing conflicts across the world and feedback from community groups asking to support the diverse crowd coming to the pride parade that may not all be comfortable with a uniformed military presence, Karlenzig said.

Karlenzig declined to disclose what groups Pride Winnipeg consulted with, citing potential backlash because of the decision.

“Our discussion with the military was, ‘No, you’re not banned, you’re just asked no uniforms for this year while we have deeper conversations,’ and instead they decided to issue a statement instead that we said no military whatsoever, which is not the case,” Karlenzig said.

A 17 Wing Winnipeg spokesperson told the Free Press the Royal Canadian Air Force base bowed out of the parade to respect the wishes of Pride Winnipeg.

“Our statement is that they requested that we not participate in uniform, and we are honouring that,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said if the base participated in plain clothes, no one would recognize the military contingent.

“If you have that many people marching in a parade, there will be nothing that will indicate that this is a contingent from 17 Wing Winnipeg,” the spokesperson said. “Who’s gonna know that we’re there from the military? Nobody.”

The spokesperson maintained 17 Wing Winnipeg is supportive of Pride Winnipeg and has told members if they wish to go in civilian attire, to do so.

The military base has participated in Winnipeg’s pride parade since 2018.

The decision to ban uniforms this year came as a disappointment to former service members who were part of Canada’s LGBTTQ+ purge of the military, RCMP and federal civil service between the 1950s and 1990s.

Todd Ross, co-chair of Rainbow Veterans of Canada, was forced to leave his position in the military in 1990 as part of the purge.

“The community has basically said to us, ‘You’re not welcome as is,’” Ross said.

Karlenzig said all are still welcome at the parade and the uniform doesn’t make the person who they are.

Ross, however, argued that for some, it’s a big part of their identity.

“We fought so hard for people to have the ability to be proud, to be open within the military and to show that pride and service,” he said.

Pride Winnipeg’s decision departs from other organizations that have decided to allow uniforms at their pride parades, including marches in Victoria.

In April, retired lieutenant-colonel Steven Deschamps announced on social media that Canadian Armed Forces members would be marching in Victoria’s pride parade in uniform. Previously, only non-uniformed police and military were allowed to participate.

Having a military presence at pride also provides an opportunity to build bridges between service members and those who have been harmed by them.

“Your neighbours are police officers, your neighbours are military, and they’re here to celebrate with you and they’re making the effort to make sure that you’re not feeling threatened by that presence,” Ross said.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights also pulled out of its participation in the parade due to the ban on uniforms. Staff were scheduled to march with their colleagues in the Public Service Pride Network.

“The CMHR has expressed its concerns about the impact of the uniform decision on Purge survivors and Rainbow veterans and encourages organizers to enter into a dialogue with those members of our (LGBTTQ+) community,” spokesperson Amanda Gaudes said in an emailed statement.

The museum currently has an exhibit titled “Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge” which has been extended to early 2027.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca