Pride Winnipeg | 2016

MAY 26, 2016 • SU PPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

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THE TIMES, THEY’RE STILL A-CHANGING. And while the struggle for LGBTTQ rights and equality is far from over — as evidenced by even the most cursory survey of social media or the 24-hour news cycle — the movement has nonetheless made great strides in recent years, with community members witnessing a paradigm shift in public support.

It’s precisely that progress that inspired the theme of this year’s Pride Winnipeg Festival, which from May 27 to June 5 encourages attendees to “Be Authentic” and let their true colours shine — a call- to-action that wasn’t always so easy to accommodate, for either the LGBTTQ community or their allies. “If we transport ourselves back 30 years ago, say you were to draft any kind of LGBTTQ legislation — such as Manitoba did with the Human Rights Code — it was considered to be groundbreaking and taboo and controversial, and in many cases political suicide,” says Pride Winnipeg president Jonathan Niemczak. “Fast-forward to 2016 and look at North Carolina — they’ve drafted a piece of legislation that’s considered to be state-sponsored discrimination, and you have a massive public backlash against them. The federal government is suing them, there are businesses pulling out of the state and you have massive impacts to their economy. “It’s quite the shift we’re seeing, in the sense that now, if you’re against the LGBTTQ community, you’re in the minority … You’re essentially just on the wrong side of history.” The legislation in question not only prohibits transgender individuals from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, it also bans cities from passing anti-discriminatory ordinances that would protect LGBTTQ people. Not surprisingly, it’s proven divisive — condemned as a “national embarrassment” by North Carolina’s attorney general, it later resulted in a civil rights lawsuit from the U.S. federal Justice Department. But while the situation south of the border remains volatile, Canadians can at least take comfort in knowing they’re considered far more progressive in their approach to equality and inclusion, something Niemczak is reminded of whenever he meets with fellow advocates from around the world. “When they hear what Canada’s doing — focusing on trans inclusion and gender identity and two spirit rights — we’re sort of on step 10 of the LGBTTQ movement,” he says. “Whereas countries like the U.S., where they just got marriage equality last year, are still on step two.” There is, of course, still plenty of work to be done. Conversion therapy has yet to be banned at the federal level in Canada, age of consent laws and blood donor policies are still imbalanced in favour of heterosexuals, and the government has yet to add either gender identity or gender expression to the list of protected classes under the Canadian Human Rights Act (though legislation has been tabled to address the latter points.) Even here in Manitoba, the movement suffered a

disappointing setback last month, when a Steinbach- area mother encountered hostility and online threats after appearing before the Hanover School Division to request they amend a policy preventing teachers from discussing families with same-sex parents. But overall, the news is encouraging, Niemczak says, noting the “coming out” age at which Manitobans first identify as LGBTTQ continues to drop — evidence that more and more people are choosing to live authentic lives, instead of suppressing parts of their personalities until they get older. That authenticity can help to spur change and strengthen communities — as it did in 1987, when 250 people gathered on the steps of Manitoba’s Legislative Building to celebrate the aforementioned changes to the Human Rights Code. “By being true to yourself and true to your core, it shows you’re not letting yourself be done in by societal norms, or by how people think you should dress or act,” says Niemczak. “You’re breaking those barriers that society and the general population attempt to put up over ourselves and other minority groups. “By being true to ourselves, we can allow ourselves to become a voice for those folks who are voiceless, or who haven’t yet found their true selves, or who are afraid to be their true selves.” Just as the social landscape is constantly changing, so too is the festival itself. This year marks the first time the province’s Lieutenant Governor will speak at the rally preceding the Pride Winnipeg Parade — which serves as the rainbow-hued jewel in the crown of the closing weekend festivities. Over at The Forks, the same weekend’s Pride Festival hours have been extended from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., giving attendees even more time to enjoy live music, peruse the PrideMart business fair, and quench their thirst at the Queer Beer beverage tent. As well, the regular closing night party has been reconceived as a kickoff, now welcoming guests to go down the rabbit hole at the “Alice in Prideland” event at nightclub 441 Main on May 27. Given that party’s costume-appropriate theme, and the parade’s continued status as a splashy showcase for cultural diversity, you can expect to see plenty of authentic lives on display at this year’s festival — likely the one aspect of Pride that will never change. “It’s why people look at it as our community’s Christmas,” says Niemczak. “It’s the one day you can be who you want to be, dress however you want to dress, and express what you want to express, and no one’s going to judge you — or even bat an eye.”

Pride Winnipeg president Jonathan Niemczak says those who discriminate against LGBTTQ people are on the wrong side of history. Photo by Darcy Finley

MAY 27 - JUNE 5 2016

A FORMER STEINBACH-AREA MOM WHO FACED AN ONLINE BACKLASH AFTER REQUESTING A SCHOOL DIVISION AMEND ITS POLICIES TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF LGBTTQ FAMILIES SAYS THE COMMUNITY’S SILENT ALLIES NEED TO ADD THEIR VOICES TO THE ONGOING DEBATE. Michelle McHale incurred the wrath of social media — and some of her neighbours — after appearing before the Hanover School Division in April to request that middle school teachers be allowed to discuss families with same-sex parents in class. The division denied the request, and McHale found herself subjected to online personal attacks and even a death threat. She also received countless messages of support and encouragement, but says she wishes more of those who share her position felt comfortable doing so publicly. “There are lots of people who are allies in email, and who are allies behind closed doors, who say, ‘You know, I really support you and I’m sorry these things are happening, but I just can’t take a stand because I’ll be alienated,’ ” says McHale, who since winter has served as Pride Winnipeg’s human resource director.

division after learning its policies prevented teachers from discussing homosexuality with students. At that initial meeting, she made two requests — first, that teachers be allowed to discuss same- sex relationships and LGBTTQ families with their students, and second, that Hanover adopt the same diversity and equity education policy implemented by Winnipeg School Division, where LGBTTQ parents and families are included in classroom resources and conversations. When the division declined her initial requests, McHale learned Hanover’s policy classifies LBGTTQ matters as “sensitive content,” and that teachers are required to contact parents whenever students raise questions relating to sexual orientation — a directive she finds equally problematic. “It gives the impression that something wrong has happened, or something concerning that requires parents to be notified,” McHale explains. “In a community like [Steinbach], to require teachers to ‘out’ kids to their parents — when we don’t know whether they believe homosexuality is wrong, or how they’re going to treat their kids when they find out — is just irresponsible.” While McHale knew her presentation would be met with opposition, she didn’t expect to encounter so many personal attacks, or for the issues she’d raised to become so quickly clouded. “I expected [people] to be angry, but I expected them to be angry about the issue,” she says. “So much of the conversation has focused on sex education, when all we’re looking for is people to be able to see themselves and their families reflected in the place where they spend so much time — their school. Telling a child that their family is OK, and that there are lots of different kinds of families out there, has nothing to do with sex ed.” Not everyone was opposed to McHale’s proposition. She says she received an “overwhelming” number of messages from those who shared support, many of them fellow LGBTTQ parents or former residents of the same community. A month after McHale’s presentation, 17-year- old Steinbach student Mika Schellenberg also

“Although I understand that, there are so many of these people that if they all came forward, they would be the majority … There would be so many of them, there would be power there.”

McHale, who lived near Steinbach for much of her life but recently moved to Winnipeg, says she was compelled to appear before the

Standing up for the community: Supporters including KISS 102.3 radio personalities AdamTaylor and Nesta Andrews and Liberal MPs Dan Vandal and Doug Eyolfson, got behind Pride Winnipeg’s Be Authentic media campaign. Photos courtesy of Pride Winnipeg

appeared before Hanover trustees to make the same request. Her appeal — which brought many in the crowd to their feet, and found others fighting back tears — left McHale with similarly mixed emotions. “Of course I was incredibly proud of her for standing up — I know that’s not easy,” she says. “But I also feel it’s incredibly sad that a 17-year-old has to stand up and say, ‘Hey, this affects us,’ or ‘Hey, what about us?’, when really it’s the job of the adults to take care of that and not put her in that position in the first place.” McHale admits the issue might be a tough sell in rural areas, where religious institutions wield considerable influence and social progress often comes at a slower pace. And while she’s optimistic the tides of public support will continue to turn in the right direction, she feels at this point, it’s the government responsibility to lead by example. “Sometimes we need our policy makers and decision makers to say, ‘Look, this is enough — we need to move forward,’ ” she says. “The government needs to step in and say, ‘You might be the majority, but that doesn’t mean the people who believe different things than you — or who don’t look like you or act like you — are any less important.’”

MAY 27 - JUNE 5 2016

SUNDAYS ARE USUALLY A DAY OF REST FOR AMANDA KINDEN AND HER STAFF, BUT THAT WON’T BE THE CASE ON JUNE 5. THE OWNER OF OH DOUGHNUTS IS OPENING HER DOORS IN ANTICIPATION OF ENTICING HUNGRY CUSTOMERS WHO’LL BE WALKING BY HER DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DURING THE PRIDE WINNIPEG PARADE. KINDEN, WHO LAUNCHED HER LOCATION MAY 9 ON BROADWAY AT HARGRAVE STREET, IS PLANNING SOME SPECIAL TREATS TO MARK THE EVENT. >

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festival the past four years and helped in the past with Club 200’s parade float. “It also allows for people that aren’t part of the community to see what we’re all about and to open our minds a little bit to it. It’s nice to see families that are maybe hetero with their children and partaking in all the events of Pride. “Every year, it seems to get bigger and bigger as well. It’s incredible, all the support that’s around it. It’s great to get everybody united, especially those that are just coming out or just experiencing it for the first time, that they’re not alone.” During festival week, customers who come in showing their pride with anything rainbow will get 15% off their food and drinks, she adds. The Planit welcomes customers of any orientation. It promotes itself as being a safe space and has gender-neutral washrooms. “When you come in, it’s not flamboyantly open,” Meilleur says. “We have pride rainbow Absolut vodka bottles and we give away pride bracelets and lanyards and stuff like that, and our napkins are rainbow coloured, as are our straws. “But we’re inclusive to all communities … Anyone with an open mind is welcome.” Kinden also embraces the festival on a personal and business level. “I think it’s great for the community to get together and celebrate who they are and just sort of have a positive experience around that,” she says. “Sometimes it can be hard to be gay or lesbian, et cetera. So it’s just really great that we all get together and have some fun. “As a business owner, it’s nice to give back to the community, but also to be supported by the community at the same time. We’re not open Sundays, but we’ll be open that Sunday. Hopefully, it can be another nice stop for people on their way back to The Forks and be another meeting place.”

“Definitely rainbow doughnuts,” Kinden says. “We’ll introduce a special flavour for that day.” That would fit in well with her menu, which includes regular and gourmet doughnuts such as cherry amaretto with toasted almonds (vegan), rootbeer float, lemon meringue and white chocolate cardamom glaze with pistachios. Pride Winnipeg Festival’s closing-day celebrations begin near the store, with a rally at the Manitoba Legislative Building at 11 a.m., followed by a parade up Memorial Boulevard, down York Avenue to Garry Street and back along Broadway to the legislative building. The partying continues at The Forks. Kinden has volunteered in the past with a company’s parade float and has attended Pride festivals since about 2001. “It’s very encouraging that it’s grown so much and it’s also very exciting that it’s at such a prominent location such as The Forks,” says Kinden, who recently joined the Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce. Many local businesses are getting into the spirit of the festival that begins May 27. Ashley Meilleur and Sandra Soares have a slate of events lined up for The Planit Restaurant & Lounge at 285 Portage Ave., including serving up the entertainment of singer/songwriter Treasure Peterson on May 31. Their fine-dining restaurant, which won the Manitoba LGBT* New Business of the Year award in 2015, will also host a drag queen lip sync battle, a queer prom, a trivia night and a queer people of colour ladies night. Meilleur, who grew up in a small town and says she wasn’t accepted for being pansexual, views the value of the festival as “huge.” “First of all, it unites the community as one,” says Meilleur, who’s attended the

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PITCH FOR PRIDE 80 Sinclair St. (Old Ex Grounds) 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Play ball, cheer on the teams and enjoy barbecue and cold drinks. Registration $120 per team WINNIPEG FRONTRUNNERS 5K PRIDE RUN Stephen Juba Park 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Fun run/walk fundraiser for Reaching Out Winnipeg. Blue Bomber mascots Buzz and Boomer will be in attendance.

RAINBOW FLAG RAISING City Hall, 510 Main St. 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. All-ages event with messages from Mayor Brian Bowman and members of Pride Winnipeg. Refreshments served by Chocolate Zen Bakery and High Tea Bakery. Free THE WINNIPEG ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE’S PRIDE DOUBLE-HEADER Fort Garry Curling Club, 696 Archibald St. 7 p.m. Get your fill of derby jammin’ and slammin’ at the fourth annual Pride double header. See www.winnipegrollerderby.com. Admission $10 2016’s BEST INTERNATIONAL LGBTTQ* COMMERCIALS Bandwidth Theatre, 587 Ellice Ave.

The best LGBTTQ* commercials of 2016 from around the world. Admission $10 QUEERIUS & OPENING RECEPTION 611 Main St. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Celebration of Winnipeg’s LGBTTQ* artists. Free ALICE IN PRIDELAND OPENING CELEBRATION 411 Main St. 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. Follow internationally acclaimed LGBT DJ Natalia Marmolejo and the red and white queens down the rabbit hole at the official opening party. It gets curiouser and curiouser with life-size dominoes and a wall of roses. Admission $20 (advance purchase available at www.pridewinnipeg.com)

New York hip-hop star Dai Burger, with Winnipeg DJs Andy_2_k and Babeyy. Admission $15 (advance tickets available at the The Good Will, Music Trader and www.ticketfly.com)

SUNDAY, MAY 29

QUEERIUS 611 Main St. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Celebration of Winnipeg’s LGBTTQ* artists. Free PRIDE VIGIL Manitoba Legislative Building 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Commemorate those who’ve lost their lives and dedicated their lives to the struggle for equal rights. Free continued on page 12 >

QUEERIUS 611 Main St. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Celebration of Winnipeg’s LGBTTQ* artists. Free

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> continued from page 10

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

MONDAY, MAY 30

BIRDCAGE Fame Nightclub, 279 Garry St. 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. An onstage adaptation of the 1996 movie. Admission $10 DRAG QUEEN LIP SYNC BATTLES! The Planit Restaurant & Lounge, 285 Portage Ave. 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. Free

TAKE YOURSELF OUT TO WORK Red River College, Roblin Centre Dining Hall, 160 Princess St. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Dynamic educational event explores ways to take yourself out at work, while building a career you love. Free DODGEBALL AND OTHER FUN GAMES! Robert A. Steen Community Centre, 980 Palmerston Ave. Go back to school gym class in a safe, fun, inclusive space. 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Admission $10 TWO SPIRITS DECOLONIZING ART Circle of Life Thunderbird House, 715 Main St. 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Song, dance, spoken-word, painting and textiles. Sponsored by Circle of Life Thunderbird Two-Spirit Council Free OPEN MIC EXTRAORDINAIRE The Planit Restaurant & Lounge, 285 Portage Ave. Unleash your inner performer. Prize for most applause. 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. Free

QUEERIUS 611 Main St. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Celebration of Winnipeg’s LGBTTQ* artists. Free

TUESDAY, MAY 31

PRIDE IN BUSINESS NETWORKING RECEPTION RBC Dominion Securities, 31st Floor – 201 Portage Ave. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce networking/socializing event. Admission $30 – free for members (RSVP required. Email: info@mb-lgbt.biz) MUSICAL STYLINGS OFTREASURE PETERSON The Planit Restaurant & Lounge,

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

BIRDCAGE Fame Nightclub, 279 Garry St. 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. An onstage adaptation of the 1996 movie. Admission $10 QUEER PROM: THE L WORD THEMED The Planit Restaurant & Lounge, 285 Portage Ave. 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. Admission $5 — free if you come as your favourite L Word character

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> continued from page 12

PRIDE WORSHIP IN THE PARK Memorial Park 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Informal, interfaith circle-style worship. Free RALLY Manitoba Legislative Building 11 a.m. - 11:45 am. Free PRIDE PARADE Starts from Manitoba Legislative Building 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Free FESTIVAL AT THE FORKS 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Free QPOC WINNIPEG PRESENTS: COLOUR ME QUEER! The Good Will, 625 Portage Ave. 10 p.m. – 3 a.m. Hip-hop dance hall party and fundraiser for QPOC post- secondary scholarships. Admission $10 (advance tickets at The Good Will and www.ticketfly. com)

The third AWE Pride Women’s event, featuring the sound of the Women of Pride, a surprise DJ, pool tables, patio and dance party. $15 advance, $20 at the door QPOC DROPTHE MIC The Good Will, 625 Portage Ave. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. The fourth open mic event featuring self-identified queer and trans people of colour. $5 suggested donation QPOC WINNIPEG: LADIES NIGHT! The Planit Restaurant & Lounge, 285 Portage Ave. The biggest ladies night of the year. 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Admission $5 before midnight

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

FESTIVAL AT THE FORKS 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Free INSPIRED EXPLORATIONS FAMILY FUN

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Crafts, experiments, games, parachute fun, bubbles, face paint and more for kids of all ages. Proceeds go to Inspired Explorations Learning Community. Admission $15 per family (2 adults, 2 children), $5 each extra child OODENA AT THE FORKS 1 p.m. Two-Spirited People of Manitoba, Queer People of Colour (QPOC) Winnipeg, and Like That at Sunshine House team up for an afternoon of entertainment. Starts with a powwow demonstration at 1 p.m. Free

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

PRIDE PANCAKE BREAKFAST Club 200, 190 Garry St. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Fuel up on pancakes before the parade and support the LGBTTQIA* youth community. Youth volunteer to plan and host the event. Donations support youth initiatives through the Rainbow Resource Centre. Free WINDSOR PARK UNITED With the Rainbow Minister from Winnipeg Presbytery. Free PRIDE SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE at AUGUSTINE Augustine United Church, 444 River Ave. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Special guests the Rainbow Harmony Project will provide music. All are welcome. Free CHURCH SERVICE 1062 Autumnwood Dr. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

YOUTH DANCE PARTY West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Peer Project for Youth and

SATURDAY JUNE 11

PRIDE GOLF Southside Golf Course 1:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Queerview invite all LGBTTQIA* and allied youth ages 13-26 to this free, dry, dance party. Free (donations accepted) COCKTAILS IN THE VILLAGE

Nine holes of golf, a putting contest, auction banquet and dance. Registration $90 ($80 before May 28)

603 Stradbrook Ave. 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Celebration of Pride in Osborne Village. Cocktail party in support of the Snowy Owl Monarchist Society Community Development Award (a scholarship fund for LGBTQ students). $15 suggested donation AWE: A WOMEN’S EVENT Jekyll & Hydes, 437 Stradbrook Ave. 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m.

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

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.”

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 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 seeking destinations that welcomed members of the LGBTQ community. Last year, she won the clients’ travel choices. Many no longer seek exclusive gay holidays because there are so many gay-

October 11-16, 2016

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