Organizers of separate, 'real' Pride march oppose Saskatoon mayor as main parade grand marshal

A group of LGBT and two-spirit people will be walking in a separate, "real" Pride march in Saskatoon on Sunday, partly because they oppose the selection of Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark as the grand marshal of the main festival parade. 

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Lynn Thompson is one of the organizers and the grand marshal of the Treaty 6 Real Pride March, which is also being called the Global Pride March.

Although it is part of the Saskatoon Pride Festival program, it is separate from the main parade on June 24.

"It was a little bit inappropriate and too premature to have our new mayor, Charlie Clark, leading the parade," said Thompson.

"I love it that he's always been a supporter but as a white, straight male and a politician I don't think he should be the grand marshal of the parade."

No corporate sponsorship at Real Pride March 

Thompson said she and her group were also opposed to corporate sponsorship of the Saskatoon Pride Festival parade.

Participants at the Real Pride March are being discouraged from bringing signs that mention organizations or corporations.  

"They just use us for advertisement. They really don't do anything for us either," said Thompson.

"We kind of lost our goal, I think, as a Pride parade, and that's our day and I always say that's our only one gay day we get."

A Facebook page for the event says it is called the "real" march because it is "in the spirit of the first Pride marches, which were protests against the brutality of police enforcing the prejudices of straight, white society."

4 complaints

Saskatoon Pride Festival co-chair Danny Papadatos said the Treaty 6 Real Pride March was included in the festival program, although it is listed as the "Global Pride March."

He said no Saskatoon mayor had ever participated in a Pride parade in the festival's 25-year history.

"That's why [Clark is] marching with the city councillors, to show that we are moving forward as a community to become an inclusive and diverse city," said Papadatos.

"Charlie has been a support to us since he was a city councillor and his wife was there helping the gay marriage movement in Saskatchewan as well."

Papadatos added that it was important for the LGBT community to know there was support from city council.

Clark will be the first grand marshal to lead the Saskatoon Pride Festival parade.

Papadatos said he received four emailed complaints about the mayor leading the parade.

Festival organizer stands by decision

"You're not going to make everybody happy and unfortunately there are a couple of people that were upset," said Papadatos.

"And we still stand by the decision because we still think that it's important to move forward as an ally."

He said the festival was supporting the separate march so those people who oppose corporate and political involvement in the parade can still march and feel proud.

The Treaty 6 Real Pride March starts at Station 20 West at 2 p.m. CST on Sunday.