Steinbach split on Pride Parade celebrations

Steinbach, Man.,is divided about thecity's first Pride Parade planned for July 9.

Manitoba RCMP, who said they were reassessing the event's permit yesterday, have yet to approve a specific route.

The city's mayor and city council were clear in a written statement yesterday, they will not endorse the event.

The opinions of people and organizations who hold "differentbeliefs from those in the LGBTQ community" need to be respected, the municipal leaders said in a statement Wednesday, while parade goers have the right to express themselves safely, they added.

• RCMP 'reassessing' permit for Steinbach's 1st Pride Parade
• Steinbach-area politicians will be no-shows at city's 1st Pride parade

NeitherMayor Chris Goertzen norcity councillors were available to comment Thursday, and a person at city hall said they would in any case not expand on the statement released.

Steinbach boasts a large faith community, and someresidentscited their Christian beliefsas a reason for refusing to support the city's first Pride Parade.

Other residents in Manitoba's third-largest city said they were supporting Steinbach Pride.

"My personal opinion is it's a good thing. People are peopleand everybody in Steinbach needs to realize that. We're all equal," said Ruth Bauer.

"Everybody has love in their heart and everyone deserves to be loved," she said.

Mister Harry said a Pride Parade was "long overdue" in Steinbach.

"I think we should all embrace each other and all get along," he said.

Steinbach Pride organizer Michelle McHale said much of the criticism of Steinbach Parade hasappeared inonline comments.

"While I absolutely believe that everyone's opinions need to be respected, it's important not to discount the things that people say are difficult," she said of some of the negative comments.

Many commentershave questioned whether Steinbachneeds a Pride Parade when LGBTQ rights are protected in Canada, McHale said.

She expresseddisappointment thatSteinbach's mayor and council have not taken a leadership role in acknowledging the struggles of the LGBT community.

"Education is needed . if you haven't been in a position where you've been discriminated against for something about yourself that you can't change, you don't know what that's like," she said.

Steinbach needs a Pride Parade because there may still be people out there who feel like they will face repercussions for coming out, McHale said.

"We want people to know that they aren't alone and that you can be out and you can still be ok," she said.

She said it's "excellent" theRCMPare reassessing their decision not to issue a parade permit toSteinbachPride and that officers will support parade-goers.

• Steinbach to hold its first-ever Pride Parade in July