NDP gets green light for Pride Parade participation
The Alberta NDP will be allowed to take part in this year’s Pride parade in Calgary, the party announced Monday.
In June, Calgary Pride said that political parties would again be allowed to join the parade, after being barred entirely from the last iteration of the event in 2019, but would have to apply and get approval to do so.
The decision on which parties are invited ultimately lies in the hands of an intersectional jury of 11 LGBTQ community members.
In a news release on Monday, the NDP announced the panel approved its application to join the festivities this year.
“Alberta’s NDP is proud to be recognized as a true ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and to march in Calgary Pride this year,” said NDP Leader
Rachel Notley. “The fight for human rights is never truly over, and with new threats emerging south of the border it is even more important that we take a stand and show our pride.
“At the end of the day, love wins.”
The governing UCP has not confirmed whether it has been approved to participate in the parade and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Calgary Pride said its jury would use a set of evaluation criteria to determine whether a political party is eligible to participate in the parade, looking at its positions and efforts to advance or protect the rights of marginalized people. The organization said a party wouldn’t get an invite if its mandates or suggested politics harmed marginalized communities.
Janis Irwin, the NDP critic for LGBTQ issues, criticized the UCP’s track record on social policies related to the queer community.
“Should we form Alberta’s next government, we will reverse harmful legislation by the UCP to out kids and we will work to expand health-care access, improve understanding and support the community in any way we can,” said Irwin.
The Calgary Pride Parade will take place Sept. 4 as part of the festival running from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5. There is a new parade route on 9th Avenue from 6th Street S.W. through the East Village, guiding participants to the festival’s new location at Fort Calgary.
This will be Calgary’s first Pride Festival since 2019, with the last two years’ events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Calgary Pride did not respond to Postmedia’s requests for comment on Monday.