COLUMN: Viewpoint – Kinew to come to Steinbach Pride, will Goertzen follow suit?

Steinbach’s upcoming Pride Parade made the news recently when Premier Wab Kinew announced he would attend the September 2026 event. This will be his first official visit to Steinbach since being elected in 2023.

Although the premier was in Steinbach for a private listening session with health-care workers in 2024, and some of his cabinet ministers have attended various events in the city, the Pride Parade in autumn will be the first time Mr. Kinew has made an official public visit.

I find it significant the premier has chosen the Pride Parade for his inaugural appearance in the province’s third largest city, since in 2025 the event was cancelled due to threats from some militant groups that led to an RCMP investigation. Perhaps the premier hopes his presence will be reassuring to those who might be hesitant to attend the parade out of fear for the kind of danger that was the reason for not staging a parade last year.

Local MLA Kelvin Goertzen clearly articulated his stance regarding the 2025 cancellation. In a public statement he said threats or intimidation against any group in society gathering peacefully weakens the foundation of democracy. In his announcement about attending the 2026 parade Mr. Kinew invited Mr. Goertzen to show his solidarity by appearing at the event as well. Will Mr. Goertzen accept the invitation? And how will Michael Zwaagstra, recently acclaimed as the new Progressive Conservative nominee for the Steinbach riding respond? Will he attend? I think it would be a great way for the two men to show their support of democracy in action and affirm that the LGBTQ citizens in their riding are valued and respected. It might even build bridges with the premier’s office.

2026 is a milestone because it marks a decade since the first Pride Parade was held in Steinbach. I was there with family members marching with my brother and his husband as a way to show our support. My brother grew up in Steinbach and experienced the same kind of discrimination and bullying the speaker Chris Plett described in his moving address to the crowd in July of 2016. Having the opportunity to march proudly and safely in his hometown with his family and marriage partner meant a great deal to my brother, as I’m sure it did to many others.

I was particularly impressed with some of the speakers from the gay community at the 2016 event who firmly stated how strong their religious faith remained and clearly demonstrated what forgiving attitudes they had toward those who had mistreated or ostracized them in the past. That’s an attitude we might all choose to emulate as we apologize to the LGBTQ community for past discrimination and pledge to do better. I know one reason I marched with my brother in the inaugural Pride Parade in 2016 was because I felt it was a way to request forgiveness. While I had always affirmed my sibling’s sexual orientation in a private family setting, there were many years when I did not do so in a public way out of fear of what people would think. I was so sorry for that.

There may be a time when Pride Parades are no longer necessary because all families, churches, institutions, organizations and government agencies will be completely supportive and affirming of people’s relationship choices. I’m glad our premier intends to show his contrition for past mistreatment of LGBTQ citizens and his resolve to make amends and move forward progressively by being at Steinbach Pride. It will be interesting to see which local community and political leaders will join him.