Pride Winnipeg

15 LINDA BURNDORFER FLIPS OPEN THE PAGES OF A PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL GUIDE AND MAKES A HAPPY OBSERVATION. "It's amazing," says the owner of Out'n About Travel Inc. "I can give you a handful of (advertiser and sponsor) names back in '94, and if you look through the pride book now and look at the people that are getting involved. "Here I am, I'm looking at Old Dutch Foods. Who would have thought? That's the part that I think is phenomenal. The entire community is just coming together and realizing that we just all have to support one another. "It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter what culture or race or sexuality. It doesn't matter. I think the community is just coming together and getting it." Mainstream Pride Winnipeg partners have also included the Toronto Dominion Bank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Mercedes-Benz, Half Pints Brewery, MTS, Manitoba Hydro and on and on. "Twenty years ago, it wouldn't have been heard of," Burndorfer adds. "It would have been, 'No, no, no, we're not going to do that.' " It was 1994 when Burndorfer opened her business. Some of her clientele included travellers seeking destinations that welcomed members of the LGBTQ community. Last year, she won the Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce TrailBlazer award, which recognizes "those business leaders who push the envelope to ensure economic success and social success go hand-in-hand." "When I started the business in '94, the clear direction then was to have an open, gay-owned, operated business," Burndorfer says. "A lot of my clients at the time were either gay or gay-friendly and that is definitely the market I went after during that time. "As time goes on, and I've really seen this happen probably in the last three to five years, it's not so unique anymore. Part of it is just because globally we're just all coming together." She's also seen a shift in her clients' travel choices. Many no longer seek exclusive gay holidays because there are so many gay- friendly destinations, but they do want advice on the areas they can go to that are safe, she says. "I've seen a lot of progression, which is great." That diversity and acceptance is also seen at Pride events, from the diverse advertisers and sponsors to the people who attend them. "I think it's bringing the entire community together; gay, lesbian, transgendered, two-spirited and allies," Burndorfer says. "You can't do this on your own. You have to have your allies who are with you. I think that's the great thing. "When I go to Pride now, I am seeing so many friends and so many people in other businesses and families that aren't gay that are coming out to support." Her business also advertises and sponsors events and she's attended festival events for years. "I'm just so proud of this damn community and all the allies," she says. "It really is amazing." October 11-16, 2016 "Twenty years ago, it wouldn't have been heard of," Burndorfer 'No, no, no, we're not going to It was 1994 when Burndorfer opened her business. Some of her clientele included travellers Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce TrailBlazer award, which recognizes "those business leaders who push the envelope to ensure economic success and social success go hand-in-hand." "When I started the business gay-owned, operated business," "A lot of my clients at the time were either gay or gay-friendly and that is definitely the market I "As time goes on, and I've really seen this happen probably in the last three to five years, it's not so unique anymore. Part of it is just because globally we're just all She's also seen a shift in her clients' travel choices. Many no longer seek exclusive gay holidays because there are so many gay- friendly destinations, but they do want advice on the areas they can go to that are safe, she says. "I've seen a lot of progression, which is great." That diversity and acceptance is also seen at Pride events, from the diverse advertisers and sponsors to the people who attend them. "I think it's bringing the entire community together; gay, lesbian, transgendered, two-spirited and allies," Burndorfer says. "You can't do this on your own. You have to have your allies who are with you. I think that's the great thing. "When I go to Pride now, I am seeing so many friends and so many people in other businesses and families that aren't gay that are coming out to support." Her business also advertises and sponsors events and she's attended festival events for years. "I'm just so proud of this damn community and all the allies," she says. "It really is amazing."

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