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Celebrating Diversity, Advocating for Equality and Overcoming Adversity PRIDE WINNIPEG MEETS THE COVID-19 CHALLENGE WITH AN ONLINE FESTIVAL
But resilience remains ingrained in the GSRD (Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diverse) com- munity’s DNA, so it’s not surprising Pride Winni- peg was simply postponed, not cancelled outright, or that organizers have been hard at work on a festival equivalent that ensures their twin man- dates — celebrating diversity while advocating for equality — can still be upheld. “Pride is more than just a weekend,” says Barry Karlenzig, who took over as Pride Winnipeg presi- dent last summer, after volunteering with the or- ganization for eight years. “Pride is seven days a week, 365 days a year. So we may have to get together a little differently this year, we may have go virtual with the hope that next year we’ll be in person. But there’s also the understanding that Pride is more … we’re there in the community, we grow as a community, and we build as a community.”
As Karlenzig explains, Pride Winnipeg was poised to undergo plenty of growth in 2020. In addition to the local version of the festival, which typically draws between 40,000 and 50,000 atten- dees to The Forks, the city was also slated to host Fierté Canada Pride (FCP), a national celebration and human rights conference that would have doubled the expected turnout. At the onset of the pandemic, local and nation- al Pride organizers launched COVID task forces to explore backup plans and alternate options. In the end, decisions were made to move this year’s Pride Winnipeg to an all-digital model, and to postpone FCP to Summer 2022 — so it won’t be competing with 2021’s WorldPride celebration in Copenhagen. “How I’ve been taught and trained is you always plan for the worst and hope for the best — always have that worst-case scenario in your pocket, and
It’s perhaps an easy cliché to invoke one of the most celebrated Pride anthems of all time, but when it comes to this year’s Winnipeg festivities, COVID-19 has done its best to rain on our parade. With large-scale gatherings no longer an option thanks to rising concerns over infection rates, local organizers had to instead pivot to an online format that prioritized the safety of participants and vol- unteers — even though such a model might at first seem to run counter to the communal spirit of the event itself. Most obviously, Pride parades across Mani- toba had to be cancelled as per provincial health regulations, along with in-person events such as the Winnipeg festival’s weekend-long party at The Forks, which was previously scheduled to take place in June.
BARRY KARLENZIG, PRIDE WINNIPEG PRESIDENT Photo by Shandi Strong
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So we may have to get together a little differently this year, we may have go virtual with the hope that next year we’ll be in person. But there’s also the understanding that Pride is more … we’re there in the community, we grow as a community, and we build as a community." –Barry Karlenzig Pride Winnipeg President “ Pride is seven days a week, 365 days a year.
we happened to need it this year,” says Karlenzig. “My first year as president, I didn’t think we’d be cancelling Pride … but to have the team we have, and to be able to be really agile and able to pivot at the drop of a hat, has been great.” Those abilities to adapt have come into play in other ways over the past year, Karlenzig says. As social justice movements exposing systemic ra- cism and police brutality gain prominence, Pride Winnipeg has stepped up efforts to engage with the larger community — in particular, members of socially marginalized populations. Such efforts already faced challenges — par- ticipation in community forums isn’t always an option for those who work nights or don’t have internet access — but communication post- COVID has proven even trickier. In response, Pride Winnipeg has reinstated key community engagement positions to its ranks, and has worked closely with groups such as Trans Manitoba, Two-Spirited People of Manitoba and Sunshine House to ensure “every voice in our community has a spot at the table, and every voice is heard.” The resulting talks have shed light on every- thing from parade accessibility issues raised by members of the 55-plus community to safety concerns that led to partnerships with Down- town BIZ and the Bear Clan Patrol. In his years working with Pride, Karlenzig says
he’s seen people grow more comfortable coming to him with honest feedback about the festival, in particular younger members of GSRD and other community organizations, whose bravery and commitment continues to impress him. “To see the younger generation and their pas- sion, I look back and think, ‘Was I that passion- ate at 22?’ " he says. “To see the work they’ve done and the conversations we’ve had, where they have no problem being the first to say, ‘I think Pride screwed up here … what can we do to make sure that doesn’t happen again?’ To have those conversations and hear that passion from the younger generation is why I do what I do.” Another reason Karlenzig does what he does? To make things easier for even younger genera- tions, in the hopes that kids like his seven-year- old nephew won’t have to face the same dis- crimination or identity issues he struggled with in his youth. One particularly cherished Pride memory suggests he’s on the right track. “Three years ago, just before the parade started, a bunch of students came running up to me and gave me a giant hug. They were from the very first-ever junior high GSA (Gay-Straight Alli- ance),” he recalls. “They said, ‘Because of you, we can be who we are today.’ I was crying before the parade even started.”
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Proud to be a Community Centre
A LOCAL HAVEN FOR 33 YEARS, CLUB 200 IS keeping the lights on
and requirements to remain seated — the current climate has only inspired management to find creative ways to at- tract and entertain its clientele. Certainly they’ve got a reserve of brand capital to build on, and no one knows the allure of the venue like owner Allen Morrison, who was first introduced to Club 200 by friends in 1992, after arriving in Winnipeg from his hometown of Dryden, Ont. “It was the early 1990s, so not a super-friendly place to come out, in smalltown Northern Ontario,” Morrison re- calls. “I came to Winnipeg, walked into Club 200 and fell in love. It was something I didn’t really realize even existed, outside of Toronto or Vancouver. “I had no idea there was this thriving community all around me. It was quite an experience, for sure — life-changing.” Morrison got his first job at the club cleaning up over the weekends, and later worked his way from busser to bartend- er to management, before taking over as owner in 2001. Through the years, he’s faced the same challenges as other bars and nightclubs — from non-smoking bylaws that threat- ened revenues in 2004 to the proliferation of hook-up apps
that have drastically changed the late-night landscape across all cultures. The club’s ability to adapt has helped it remain vi- able, Morrison says, as has its place in the hearts of patrons from all points on the LGBTTQA spectrum. “Joel (partner Joel Sarbit) and I have always supported the community … and I think that really helps when times are tough — the community tends to come back and offer the same support that you put out there,” he says. “We’ve never focused on just one segment of the popu- lation. We’ve always been a place where men and women, trans folks, everybody can come and mingle, and feel like they have a place here.” Morrison had to close the club’s doors on March 17 of this year, as concerns about the spread of COVID-19 rendered large gatherings a no-go. He says the decision was one of the hardest he’s had to make, and admits he wasn’t sure if or when he’d be able to open again. “I’ve been here for so long, it really felt like the end of something. So it was an emotional day,” he recalls. “Because the club represents more than a drinking spot. Especially in the last few years, it’s become more of a community centre
The dance floor may be off-limits for now — and any options for cruising or mingling limited to those already sharing your table — but even amidst a global pandemic, the doors at Club 200 remain very much open. Now in its 33rd year of operations, the Garry Street main- stay is one of only two dedicated venues for LGBTTQA patrons left in Winnipeg, along with its dance-club cousin Fame, located just a few blocks to the south. For decades, Club 200 has played host to all manner of “old school” queer events, from drag balls and erotic bingos to community fundraisers and open mic nights for singer- songwriters and stand-up comics. And while guests will notice plenty of COVID-related changes in place — newly installed sneeze guards and touch- less bathroom fixtures, mandatory handwashing upon entry
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— and in some cases, the only real social outlet for many people inside our community.” Thankfully, the club was able to re-open on June 1, and while things inside look a little different — thanks largely to the namesake capacity being reduced from 200 to 75 — the safety of its patrons remains top priority, particularly the more vulnerable community members who call Club 200 home. These days, staff are looking forward to supporting the virtual Pride Winnipeg Festival being hosted by local or- ganizers in coming weeks. Club 200 was one of two venues that hosted pre-recording sessions for the lineup of per- formers whose acts will be streamed online Sept. 12 and 13, and plans are in place to host socially distanced view- ing parties where patrons can watch the festivities in real time. And while there are obvious question marks hanging over just about every aspect of club life right now, Mor- rison remains confident it won’t be long before patrons can make a welcome return to the dance floor. “The club, and also the gay community, we’ve weath- ered storms before,” he says. “We’re grinders; we’ll figure out a way through … I think the gay community doesn’t always get enough credit for how resilient we are, and how in times like this, we come together. “I feel optimistic, for sure. It’s a new business, but we’ve had to adapt to a lot of new circumstances before. We’ll figure out a way through this, too.”
… I think the gay community doesn’t always get enough credit for how resilient we are, and how in times like this, we come together.
–Allen Morrison, Manager Club 200
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLUB 200 THE CLUB, WITH ITS STAGE (OPPOSITE PAGE) AND LOUNGE (RIGHT), IS A VITAL SOCIAL OUTLET FOR MANY PATRONS.
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When it became clear COVID-19 would make in-person events impossible this summer, Pride organizers refocused their efforts into an online model they hope will afford some of the same community connections, even from a distance.
Streaming in
DIGITAL FESTIVAL OFFERS SENSE OF CONNECTION
tions, and the attendant support structures showcased each year. So when it became clear COVID-19 would make in-person events impossible this sum- mer, Pride organizers refocused their efforts into an online model they hope will afford some of the same community connections, even from a distance. “Isolation is already a common theme throughout the GSRD communities in our province, as not every individual has easy ac- cess to resources,” says Jenn Rand, who signed on as one of Pride’s new community liaisons in 2019. “Some of our community members are not accepted by their own families, and they turn to their ‘chosen families’ for that love and sup-
port, instead. “With COVID-19 upon us, the lack of being able to make that physical, human connection with those supports can be detrimental to one's mental health. For our community members that are immune-compromised, the stresses of being extra careful can take their toll, as well.” Rand has first-hand experience dealing with the impacts of social isolation. As a teen grow- ing up in rural Manitoba, she encountered ignorance and homophobia in the hallways of her schools, leading her to remain closeted until she was 18, and struggling with identity and mental health issues. She says she felt the tide beginning to shift after experiencing her first Pride celebration in 2006.
The decision to move to a digital festival isn’t one Pride Winnipeg organizers came by easily. But given the event’s longtime mandate — to celebrate the diversity of the GSRD commun- ity, while advocating for equality for all — put- ting a pin in the party and hoping for better luck next year wasn’t anyone’s preferred op- tion, either. As organizers point out, many members of the GSRD (Gender, Sexual and Relationship Siverse) community already deal with feelings of isolation and alienation, heightening the need for outlets like provincial Pride celebra-
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“Attending Pride for the first time really was life-changing in the sense that I no longer felt scared or ashamed to be who I was,” says Rand, who co-founded the first official Canadian chapter of Dykes On Bikes Women’s Motorcycle Contingent in Winnipeg last year. “I learned that there was a large, diverse and loving community waiting with open arms to accept me exactly as I am … it quickly turned into the event I look for- ward to every single year.” That widespread anticipation is one of the primary reasons Pride organizers wanted to offer more than just a “come back next year” message to their attendees. And while they’d have been afforded some leeway with smaller outdoor gather- ings (at press time, anyway), they thought it safest to instead host a fully digital festival featuring two days of streamed perform- ances by the likes of local songwriter Sierra Noble and queer DJ collective Pop Tart, and “Read by Queens” storytelling sessions from drag performers such as Picky & Glory (aka Pictoria Secrete and Gloria Booths, always a hit at Pride parades across Canada). The performances were recorded dur- ing safe, socially distanced sessions at Club 200 and the West End Cultural Cen- tre. Pride president Barry Karlenzig says
they’ll be streamed on YouTube and via Facebook watch parties from noon to 8 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 12 and Sun., Sept. 13. He’s currently working with local radio stations to see if portions of the festival can also be broadcast over local airwaves. As well, he and other Pride reps have been reaching out to fellow GSRD and com- munity organizations to offer assistance in moving their events online. “We’ve tried to do what we can to help with software, technology, meetings, even helping with bylaws and other random stuff — whatever we can do to help, not just (for Winnipeg groups), but all the other Prides in Manitoba,” he says, noting celebrations in Brandon, Steinbach and Morden all had to be cancelled this year. Karlenzig says he hopes Pride Winnipeg will be back — bigger and better than ever — in 2021. And while the setbacks encoun- tered this year were definitely frustrating, Rand notes they also provided an oppor- tunity to take stock of the festival’s con- tinued relevance, and of the indomitable spirit of the GSRD community. “We were also able to step back as an or- ganization and remind ourselves of just how important our community is to us, the rea- sons why we volunteer, and the importance of keeping one another safe and healthy.”
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Pride Flag Raising Fri., Sept. 4; time and location TBD Under normal circumstances, the annual flag-raising ceremony that doubles as Pride’s official kick-off would be open to the public, but this year’s version will be an online-only affair. Check Pride Winnipeg’s website for details on how to take part. Digital Pride Sat., Sept. 12, and Sun., Sept. 1 3 Instead of the weekend’s worth of entertainment originally slated to unfold at The Forks, Pride organizers have been busy pre-recording performances by an all-local lineup. The resulting eight-hour sessions will be streamed at noon both days, via YouTube and Facebook Watch. (Again, check the website for additional details.) Featuring everything from children’s programming (courtesy Jessee Havey and the Banana Band) to drag queen story-time sessions to traditional Two-Spirit dancers, the virtual lineup will be anchored by a trio of headlining sets: JayWood — From bedroom pop to psychedelic funk, this indie groove god is the life of the
party, spinning sounds at once heartfelt and high-energy, dreamy but still endlessly danceable. PopTart — Winnipeg’s premiere party purveyors, this DJ collective makes it their mission to indulge your guiltiest pop-music pleasures. This time out, core members Andy_2_K, Elle-Eganté and DJ J. Jackson get an assist from local drag heroes the Sunshine Bunch. Sierra Noble — From traditional fiddle to feisty roots-rock, this former busker turned multi-hyphenate defies easy categorization. Switching easily from intimate to anthemic, she’s Canadiana incarnate — so it makes sense her Pride set will feature a cameo from drag- and-jig-dancing icon Miss Sandi Bay.
Let's Get Digital Pride Winnipeg's lineup goes online
You know what they say about the best laid plans. At no time has it been truer than in 2020, when COVID- related health and safety concerns scuttled some of the city’s most popular summer festivals, including Pride Winnipeg celebrations originally slated for June. But while many in-person events had to be postponed until next year (among them the Pride Vigil at the Legislature, the Two-Spirit
Pow Wow at The Forks, and of course the Pride March through downtown Winnipeg), there’s still plenty to be proud about, including the Herculean efforts by local organizers to shift this year’s festival to a digital format. We’ve assembled a short round-up based on details available by press time. For even more up-to-date info, check the official website at pridewinnipeg.com.
SIERRA NOBLE PHOTO BY JOSH DOOKHIE
THE DUO,AKA PICTORIA SECRETE AND GLORIA BOOTHS, WILL TAKE PART IN STORYTELLING SESSIONS. Picky & Glory
PHOTO COURTESY OF PICKY & GLORY
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ated elsewhere in Canadian society. “A lot of these schools were run by church groups that had a very set idea of male and fe- male, and of sexuality,” says McLeod. “All Can- adians have been impacted by that, but I think more so Indigenous people, who were forced into situations where this dogma was forced onto them for generations.” McLeod says adoption of the Two-Spirit name has helped to spark a sea change of rec- ognition and acceptance. Up until recently, Indigenous people often existed at the fringes of mainstream LGBTQ consciousness, but at- titudes have changed as new generations have greater exposure to diversity through socializa- tion and media. “For some Two-Spirit people in this genera- tion, they’re growing up not having to be in the closet,” McLeod says. “They come out very early, whether they’re trans or LGBT, and their family is able to provide them with supports, and really help them with their path in life. It’s very dif- ferent from the past … when there was a lot of stigma and fear and shame.” As evidence, McLeod cites the 2019 National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, which included more than 30 2SLGBTQQIA-specific Calls for Justice in its final report. He also notes inroads made closer to home, after Pride Winnipeg organizers were criticized for not fairly representing Indigenous and Queer and Trans People of Colour (QT- POC) in marketing efforts or at events. In 2016, following community consultations and the launch of a five-year plan to step up in- clusion and diversification efforts, Pride Win- nipeg launched a campaign that put Two-Spirit and QTPOC at the forefront of promotional materials. In 2017, Pride Winnipeg partnered with Sun- shine House and Two-Spirited People of Mani- toba to host the festival’s first Two-Spirit pow wow at The Forks. The tradition has continued since then, but as with all events scheduled for 2020, this year’s will take place in a digital for- mat, with dancers appearing as part of the eight- hour performance sessions being streamed by Pride Canada on Sept. 12 and 13.
Had this year’s Pride Winnipeg party not been sidelined by COVID-19, it would have marked the festival’s 10th summer at The Forks, a site that for centuries served as a meeting place for Indigenous people from across Canada. That anniversary will have to wait until 2021 (organizers are calling this year’s fest Version 9.5), but there’s an even more historic milestone that won’t have to be deferred — the 30th anni- versary of the term “Two-Spirit,” which origin- ated here in Manitoba. On Aug. 4, 1990, at the third Gathering of Native American Gays and Lesbians near Beausejour, Dr. Myra Laramee — a member of the Fisher River Cree Nation — brought the name to a sharing circle of 80 attendees from across North America. It was received through ceremony, and adopted by many Indigenous groups the following year. “It’s a neologism, which is a modern term that’s introduced as an interpretation of some- thing old,” says Albert McLeod, co-director of Two-Spirited People of Manitoba. “People use the term Two-Spirit to define who they are, because it’s not just about your gender or your sexual orientation — it’s about your entire identity and your culture and your spirituality.” Reclaiming the name in 1990 — the same year as the Oka resistance and the defeat of the Meech Lake Accord — was seen as an act of de- colonization and reconciliation, McLeod says, noting early colonial governments and church- es sought to abolish all forms of Indigenous identity and spirituality, including the tradition of spirit-naming. As residential schools endeavored to shame the traditions and roles ascribed to LGBTQ people, such names and descriptors fell out of use over generations, eventually being replaced with derogatory and transphobic slurs perpetu-
Reclaiming an Indigenous Tradition TWO-SPIRITED PEOPLE OF MANITOBA MARK A 30-YEAR MILESTONE
In 2016, following community consultations and the launch of a five-year plan to step up inclusion and diversification efforts, Pride Winnipeg launched a campaign that put Two-Spirit and QTPOC at the forefront of promotional materials.
TWO-SPIRITED PEOPLE OF MANITOBA CO-DIRECTOR ALBERT MCLEOD
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TWO-SPIRITED PEOPLE OF MANITOBA CO-DIRECTOR ALBERT MCLEOD (RIGHT) MARCHES WITH FRIENDS FROM PUKATAWAGAN FIRST NATION IN THE 2019 NEW YORK CITY PRIDE PARADE.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBERT MCLEOD
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RAISING OUR FLAG TO SUPPORT EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ON OUR CAMPUSES
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