Pride Winnipeg | 2015

June 5-14, 2015

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Pride Winnipeg’s advocacy coordinator. “I feel like I’m helping somebody just by sharing my story. (Speaking out) is something I’m proud of and want to continue doing for as long as possible,” she says. “It’s an incredible honour to be thought of so highly and to lead this parade.” In 2010, Strong achieved her long-time dream of gender-reassignment surgery. When the bandages were removed and she saw her new body for the first time, she wept with joy. “I was complete — it just felt right.The struggle dis- appeared; the stress disappeared,” she says. Strong doesn’t agree with the old adage that transgender people were born in the “wrong” bodies. “Our bodies are our bodies. There are just a couple little alterations that need to be done.” She knew she was different from a young age, but didn’t understand why. “I didn’t know what it was back in elementary school. I knew I got along better with girls,” she says. “As a child, you don’t know about rules until someone points them out to you.” When she was seven years old, her father put a stop to their traditional goodnight hug and kiss. “My dad said, ‘No, men don’t hug and kiss. Men shake hands.’ That affected me for decades,” says Strong. “I wanted to hug my dad. Why couldn’t I hug my dad? If I’d been a little girl, I would have been al- lowed to hug him. Girls had a bit more freedom of expression when it came to their emotions.” While her parents needed some time to adjust, she says they’ve been very supportive. “Trans people risk losing their friends and families. My dad has come a long way. My mom said that she didn’t know how to explain me to her friends. We’ve had some issues, but I love and respect my mom a lot,” Strong says. “If it wasn’t for her, I’d have a differ- ent outlook on life.” ◗

Strong’s story is one of survival, and one that res- onates with many in the LGBTTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi- sexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer) community, making her a natural choice for this year’s Pride Win- nipeg Parade Grand Marshal — the first transgender Grand Marshal in the history of the festival. In 2009, Strong went public with her decision to undergo gender-reassignment surgery. Within weeks, she’d lost her job and her marriage. “It messed me up real bad, but you can’t give up. You have to believe in yourself and you have to take care of yourself. Do something that feels good just because you want to do it,” she says. “Reach out to your friends. Don’t give up on the idea that there are people who care about you — because there are.” Thankfully, one of Strong’s daughters intervened on the day she had planned to take her life. Anti-de- pressants, counselling from the Rainbow Room, and support from her friends and the LGBTTQ commun- ity helped her heal. She’d been active in the community since 2008, but with some encouragement, she began to tell her story. “Most trans people are terribly shy.They just want to live under the radar, but invisibility harms us — people are free to make up their own minds about us without knowing us,” Strong says. “We have the same wants, desires, and needs everyone else has. People need to see us to realize we’re just like them.” After suddenly losing her job of 15 years, Strong struggled to find new employment, often wondering if being transgender was the reason she wasn’t get- ting hired. For a while she juggled three part-time jobs and took in tenants in order to make ends meet. She recently secured a full-time management position, and she’s earned the respect of the community as a vocal role model, appearing as a keynote speaker at the 2015 OUTShine Conference in May and acting as

Along with the Grand Marshal, the Pride Winnipeg Parade has two honorary marshals.The Honorary Youth Marshal is Maree Rodriguez, whose anti- bullying efforts have included organizing a PinkT-shirt Day kickoff rally.The Honorary Community Group Marshal is the Manitoba Association for Rights & Liberties (MARL), a non-profit organization that’s been raising awareness and defending rights and liberties for more than 37 years. The Parade starts atthe Manitoba Legislature at 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 14.

WISHING YOU A VIBRANT, SEXY,

DELICIOUS, GAY PRIDE WEEK

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