DIVERSITY INCLUDES ALL
One would imagine organizers of this fall’s Calgary Pride Parade would welcome every supporter. What would be more rewarding, after all, than a fulsome gathering of people united in celebrating the city’s wonderful diversity?
That’s apparently not the case. The United Conservative Party has been told it’s not welcome to join in the festivities. The party, along with uniformed police officers, has been denied participation. That’s a tremendous shame; everyone, as they say, loves a parade.
There’s obviously bruised feelings on the part of the city’s LGBTQ community. It feels hurt by the past actions of police force members and is uncertain of the United Conservative Party’s acceptance of sexual diversity. These grievances aren’t without foundation, but surely the entire point of the parade is to celebrate tolerance and acceptance of different lifestyles, different ways of looking at life.
Do parade organizers think that United Conservative Party members are all heterosexual — that no gay person who wanted to advocate for less government and balanced budgets could ever support the political movement? And even if that were true, the desire to stand with Calgary’s LGBTQ community should be applauded, not denied.
“I think marching in Pride is a privilege, not a right, and it’s something that needs to be earned. The UCP hasn’t earned that privilege yet,” observed Kristopher Wells, an associate professor at the University of Alberta.
It wasn’t so long ago that politicians were deservedly called out for not attending the pride parade. Now, we’ve apparently reached the point where one has to pass some sort of test if they want to publicly demonstrate support for an important and noble cause.
Harrison Fleming, Alberta co-ordinator of LGBTory, an LGBTQ conservative organization, calls organizers’ position short-sighted and characterizes their decision to deny the party’s participation as a political statement, which it is.
“It limits the message of inclusion that we ought to be telling the next generation — all these young kids coming up right now,” says Fleming.
“It stifles this incredible message to say, ‘listen, every political leader and every political party in the province says they want you to be on board with them.’ ”
What tremendous wisdom Fleming possesses. Calgarians are stronger when we stand together. The organizers of the pride parade, while clearly well intentioned, would do well to heed his message. Let’s have fewer fences and more conversations, more embracing of hands.