Pride Winnipeg disappointed with PCs after Official Opposition skips out on parade
The president of Pride Winnipeg says he's disappointed the Manitoba Progressive Conservative caucus did not participate formally in Sunday's Pride parade after taking part in every parade since 2017.
Pride Winnipeg president Barry Karlenzig said PC Leader Obby Khan and other PC MLAs did not sign up as an entry in the annual parade.
"It's disappointing to me because when the PCs were in power, we did receive the provincial grants to start Manitoba Pride Alliance and we were told they support the queer community," Karlenzig said Monday.
"This shows wholeheartedly that that was just speech. They don't support the community. If they supported the community, they would have been there to celebrate our diverse community."
The PCs formally entered all but one parade when Brian Pallister served as premier, both parades when Heather Stefanson was premier and in 2024, when interim leader Wayne Ewasko led the party.
Obby Khan, who won the PC leadership race in April, said Sunday's Pride parade "looked like it was a great time" but did not offer an explanation why he and his caucus did not walk in it.
"MLAs are free to attend if they want to attend. I don't know what every MLA's schedule was. I know my schedule was what it was," Khan said.
"Also, you know, I had a prior commitment. I wasn't invited and I don't want the story to be about me attending Pride. This is about communities, about a celebration. It's about communities about the rights and that's what we want to focus on."
WATCH | Manitoba Progressive Conservatives did not attend Winnipeg Pride parade:
Karlenzig said the PCs did not need an invitation to sign up for the parade. The only formal invitations were sent to the premier, mayor, prime minister and the grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, he said.
Karlenzig noted Stefanson even walked in the parade the one year she was asked not to speak at the Pride rally.
Khan said it's important to note the former PC government's financial support for both Pride Winnipeg and the Rainbow Resource Centre.
Earlier this spring, when he was running for PC leader, Khan also said he was not aware the term "parental rights" could have been perceived as a transphobic dog whistle during the 2023 provincial election campaign, when he served as the face of a PC "parental rights" campaign platform promise he described as an effort to combat bullying in schools.
"I was aware after the campaign, actually, that some people would use that as a dog whistle. It was not my intent at all. I don't believe in that at all," Khan said in an interview on March 7.
Khan said as a member of a visible minority, he has faced and continues to face discrimination and he feels strongly about the rights of every Manitoban.
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Trump's defenders insist the president has not acted in a discriminatory way, and they point to public polling that shows widespread support for policies like restrictions on transgender athletes. 'He's working to establish common sense once again,' said Ed Williams, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, which represents LGBT conservatives. Harrison Fields, the principal deputy press secretary at the White House, said, 'the overall MAGA movement is a big tent welcome for all and home to a large swath of the American people.' 'The president continues to foster a national pride that should be celebrated daily, and he is honored to serve all Americans,' Fields said. Presidential actions were widely expected Trump made anti-transgender attacks a central plank of his campaign reelection message as he called on Congress to pass a bill stating there are 'only two genders' and pledged to ban hormonal and surgical intervention for transgender minors. He signed an executive order doing so in January. His rally speeches featured a spoof video mocking transgender people and their place in the U.S. military. Trump has since banned them outright from serving. And although June is recognized nationally as Pride month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters this week that Trump has 'no plans for a proclamation.' 'I can tell you this president is very proud to be a president for all Americans, regardless of race, religion or creed,' she added, making no mention of sexual orientation or gender identity. Williams described Pride activities as a progressive catch-all rather than a civil rights campaign. 'If you're not in the mood to protest or resist the Trump administration,' he said, 'Pride is not for you.' Trump declined to issue Pride Month proclamations in his first term, but did recognize the celebration in 2019 as he publicized a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality headed by Richard Grenell, then the U.S. Ambassador to Germany and the highest-profile openly gay person in the administration. (Grenell now serves as envoy for special missions.) 'As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation,' Trump posted on social media. Times have changed where Trump is concerned This time, there is no celebrating. 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