Winnipeg's Pride Celebration

Wednesday May 30, I spoke in the Manitoba Legislature about Winnipeg's upcoming Pride celebration.

Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, Winnipeg's Pride celebration, which officially kicked off in Winnipeg last Friday with a flag-raising ceremony at the University of Winnipeg, is one of many that will take place across the province this summer, including in Portage, Brandon, Flin Flon and Steinbach.

I'd like to recognize this year's Pride Parade grand marshal, Brielle Beardy-Linklater. She's a 24‑year‑old two-spirited transgender queer woman from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. She's a fighter at heart who follows her traditional knowledge and practices.

In a recent media interview she has said, and I quote: "I know there's a crisis on First Nations communities with two-spirited LGBTQ kids, in part because they don't know their identity, and what I'm trying to do is to help bridge that gap."

Pride week is a time that we must all stand together against discrimination, racism and intolerance. All of these work against our hopes of an accepting and diverse society.

I urge other MLAs to make every effort to attend Pride events in their communities.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to end my statement with a final quote from Brielle: When I speak, I tell it like it is and I say truth to power.

Miigwech, thank you, merci.

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