Steinbach Pride

Steinbach Pride (also known as the March for Equality)[1] is an annual pride march and rally in Steinbach, Manitoba. The first event, which was attended by 3,000 people, was held on July 9, 2016. It garnered national attention in Canada after no elected officials of the area chose to attend.[2]

History

In spring 2013, the NDP provincial government tabled Bill 18, an anti-bullying bill, which required all publicly funded schools to support anti-bullying student groups, including those supporting students of "all sexual orientations and gender identities," such as Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs).[3]

Some socially conservative groups such as Southland Community Church and Steinbach Christian School opposed the bill on grounds that it violated their religious freedom, and Steinbach City Council passed a resolution asking the government to review the issue.[4][5][6] A prayer meeting in Steinbach against Bill 18 drew 1,200 people.[7] Bill 18 passed without amendments in September, and has not been rescinded even after the Progressive Conservatives came into power.[8]

In 2016, Steinbach resident Michelle McHale petitioned Hanover School Division, asking for an inclusive curriculum, while the board responded by citing an internal policy not to discuss same-sex relationships in the classroom.[7] It also denied a similar request from a lesbian student in one of their schools.[9] McHale and her partner then filed a Human Rights Complaint against Hanover School Division.[10]

McHale, who had been involved in Pride Winnipeg, organized the first ever Pride Parade in Steinbach.[11]

Since 2019, the event has been organized by Chris Plett.[12] The 2020 and 2021 events were postponed due the Covid 19 pandemic, with the event returning in August 2022.[13]

First parade

The first Steinbach Pride event was held on July 9, 2016. Organizers were expecting about 200 people, but over 3,000 people came from the region and across the province and the parade received national attention.[14][15]

Support for the parade grew when news and criticisms broke that neither the mayor of Steinbach, their provincial representative, nor their federal representative would attend.[16] Federal MP Ted Falk claimed a conflict in his schedule with Frog Follies festival in St-Pierre-Jolys, but when the Follies organizers publicly asked him to attend Steinbach Pride instead, Falk came out to say he would not attend because of “values of faith, family and community.”[14]

At first, the RCMP denied the organizers' application for a permit to march on the street and asked the parade to stay on the sidewalk, but were able to negotiate a route with the city. The parade route went from E.A. Friesen Park to Steinbach City Hall, where speakers addressed a crowd that spilled out beyond the building's lawn.[17]

References
  1. "Pride put on hold for pandemic". The Carillon. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  2. "Thousands take part in the 1st Pride parade in Steinbach, Man". CBC News. July 9, 2016.
  3. The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. "The Public Schools Amendment Acts (Safe and Inclusive Schools)". Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  4. Nick Martin (March 7, 2013). "Steinbach Bill 18". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  5. Rajeev Dhir (March 23, 2013). "Steinbach pizzeria sign stirs Bill 18 controversy". CTV Winnipeg. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  6. "Anti-bullying bill like 'persecution' in Steinbach". CBC News. March 7, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  7. Ian Froese (April 6, 2016). "Mom asks HSD to talk homosexuality in class". The Carillon. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  8. CBC News (13 September 2013). "Bill 18 passes in Manitoba legislature". CBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  9. "Hanover School Division trustees cite cancer, residential schools during LGBT debate". CBC News. June 10, 2016.
  10. Katie Dangerfield (June 10, 2016). "Human rights complaint filed against Steinbach-area school division". Global News.
  11. "Steinbach Pride Inside a battle for LGBT rights". Macleans. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  12. "Pride put on hold for pandemic". The Carillon. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  13. "Pride put on hold for pandemic". The Carillon. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  14. James Turner (July 9, 2016). "First Pride march in Steinbach, Manitoba draws thousands". The Globe and Mail.
  15. "Thousands take part in the 1st Pride parade in Steinbach, Man". CBC News. July 9, 2016.
  16. The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. "The Public Schools Amendment Acts (Safe and Inclusive Schools)". Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  17. "Steinbach Pride celebrates after on-street parade permit granted". CBC News. June 29, 2016.
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