Original gay pride event had protest element

Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, back in the city to participate in the Pride parade, recalls the origins of the event as a march to protest against prejudice.

Murray, who was mayor from 1998 to 2004 and is known as the first openly gay mayor of a large Canadian city, will be the grand marshal of Sunday's parade, which begins at noon with a rally at the provincial legislature.

In an interview with CBC on Saturday, Murray said he recalled his first gay march, in 1986, when some people wore paper bags over their faces.

"It was people who wanted to participate but who couldn't be seen," Murray said. "This was a time when you could lose your job, lose your apartment, for known to be gay or lesbian."

Murray added that, for others, wearing a paper bag was part of their protest

Organizers expect as many as 10,000 people will participate in Pride events in Winnipeg over the next few days.

Murray recently won a provincial byelection race for the Liberals in Ontario.