Pride Winnipeg | 2020

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SEPTEMBER 4 -13

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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