Brandon's 1st-ever Pride parade takes place this weekend
Organizer has heard of gay, lesbian couples being harassed while walking, holding hands
The first-ever pride parade takes place in Brandon on Saturday to celebrate and support the LGBT community in the province's second-largest city.
Rune Breckon, an organizer of the event, said the parade is an important step forward for the community.
"Having us walk down major streets in Brandon is kind of just a reminder to people — and maybe not even a reminder — but maybe just that this is a first time that people are seeing LGBT community members and a lot of people supporting them," Breckon said.
He said western Manitoba has a long way to go in terms of being more inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
But not everyone in that community is getting excited for the march. Some people have expressed fear that they won't be accepted in Brandon if they are seen at public events supporting LGBT pride.
"Part of it has to do with a lot of the attitudes... all those negative feelings and beliefs about the LGBT community," Breckon said.
He's heard of people in Brandon yelling at gay or lesbian couples walking down the street holding hands, as well as couples not being rented housing due to their sexual orientation.
"I think a large part of it is ignorance and not being aware or being really naive. But then there's the folks that are aware but maybe operate with this idea that LGBT folks are really weird and strange and abnormal and therefore treat the LGBT community members with a lot of disrespect and a lot of hate," he said Friday.
Many people in the LGBT community choose to move to larger cities where there is a better chance of escaping discrimination, but not all do, some prefer smaller towns and cities despite the challenges, Breckon said.
"Hey we're here, we're everywhere," he added.
The organizers aren't sure what to expect in terms of numbers for the event, since it is a first, but Breckon encourages people to come out to demonstrate that there is sizeable support in the city for LGBT pride.
"We are supposed to be friendly Manitoba," Breckon said.
The march is one of many events hosted by Brandon Pride this weekend.
The event will have a police escort, even though Brandon Pride has never had a problem at public events in the past.