Pride Winnipeg 2015 Pride Guide | Page 8

8 A Message From THE PREMIER OF MANITOBA On behalf of the Province and people of Manitoba, welcome to the largest celebration of LGBTTQ* culture on the prairies—the 2015 Pride Winnipeg Festival. Pride Winnipeg has been celebrated annually since 1987, when 250 individuals marched against the homophobic culture of the day, advocating freedom and love. This movement swept the nation, transforming society and inspiring a new era of acceptance. Today, Pride Winnipeg welcomes over 35,000 people to a 10-day celebration of equality filled with music, activism, and joy. As Pride has evolved, so have the rights of Manitoba’s LGBTTQ* community. Our government is passionately committed to equality, and we have put pride into action by extending marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples, strengthening anti-discrimination laws, and fostering safe, supportive schools. In the last year we passed another momentous bill, making it easier and more accessible for transgender Manitobans to change their sex designation on provincial documents. We are deeply proud of this progress and proud to stand with the LGBTTQ* community in their struggle for e