Pride North of 55 kicked off its fourth-annual Pride week in Thompson with a march from the Thompson Regional Community Centre to MacLean Park under sunny skies on Sept. 16.
Pride North of 55 chairperson Harlie Pruder said her involvement with Pride of North of 55 has been instrumental in her coming-out process.
“Pride North of 55 was started by one of my personal heroes, Michelle Smook, who started this in 2014 with the help of Jason Douglas, a former resident of Thompson and he moved to Winnipeg and was very active with Pride Winnipeg,” said Pruder. “Without this organization I would probably still be in the closet. Before it started I was terrified. I remember crying in Michelle’s van. I was crying because I was scared. We were going to be selling 50-50 tickets and I didn’t want to sell them because I didn’t want people to know that I was queer. Today, I can’t even believe that that’s how I was just four years ago because, if you know me you know that Pride is such a huge part of my identity. It is one of the first things that I tell people about myself because for 24 years it was something I couldn’t barely admit to myself.”
Also speaking at the event was June Bourguignon on behalf of Churchill-Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton.
“Today is a day of celebration for our community and our north,” said Bourguignon. “We celebrate love, respect and support for LGBTQ rights. We also recommit to working to put an end to discrimination faced by members of the LGBTQ community. We must put an end to homophobia and transphobia, to bullying, to discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation gender and identity. While gains have been made at the national level this year including the recognition of trans rights through bill C-16 much work remains to be done to address the inequality and disproportionate violence that many trans people face. Your work is key in building a safer community for everyone. You’ve blazed a trail for some time and this year it was great to see Flin Flon Pride come together and show pride as our northern neighbour. We stand with you and support you all the way.”
Other organizations with members marching included the Thompson RCMP, Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU), the Manitoba Teachers Society (MTS) and the Thompson Teachers’ Association.
“We believe in the inclusiveness of everybody and we are always trying to show that to our brothers and sisters as the union,” said Carol Grant of the MGEU. “We’re proud to be here and we’re proud to help you celebrate this. It’s an important event that is held in many cities and it’s nice to see that you have the support that you do here in Thompson.”
“It’s wonderful to support each other,” said TTA president Cathy Pellizarro, who is also on the MTS provincial executive.
Thompson Pride Week continued with a Pride flag-raising at City Hall Sept. 18 and there is a mini-festival on Sept. 23 in the Bill Comaskey Wellness Centre at the Thompson Regional Community Centre.
