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THE organizer of the inaugural Steinbach Pride March says she is disappointed the local representatives of the three levels of government are skipping the July 9 event.

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen, Conservative MP Ted Falk and Progressive Conservative MLA Kelvin Goertzen have all declined to attend the march.

Steinbach Pride organizer Michelle McHale argues that as the LGBTTQ* community mourns the mass slayings of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., the wrong message is being sent.

"Having politicians and people in leadership say things in support right now is so significant. They are the leaders, so if the leaders in community say, ‘No, you have a place here, you have value, and we aren’t going to let people discriminate against you,’ it means something," she said. "Silence sends a huge message, too. People hear the things that aren’t being said."

    'I am concerned that a Frog Follies event is going to come before attending a human rights event'

The local Hanover School Division is embroiled in controversy after rejecting a request from a Grade 12 student that students and teachers be allowed to discuss sexual identity in their classrooms. Hanover has not mandated LGBTTQ* awareness training, although some staff members have taken it. Education Minister Ian Wishart has offered to help the division address the issues in the classroom, and the board has yet to respond.

The Pride March for Equality in Steinbach has been billed as a way to show a united front and commitment to LGBTTQ* safety within Manitoba’s Bible belt community. The march will begin in the morning at the Steinbach United Church and end at city hall.

The RCMP said in light of the events in Orlando, there will be an increased police presence on July 9.

Kelvin Goertzen, who is the health minister, declined to be interviewed.

At a 2003 rally at the legislature, he spoke out against same-sex marriage.

A spokeswoman for the minister said in an email statement he will not attend the march due to a "previous personal commitment."

"Government representatives from rural and urban constituencies recently attended the Winnipeg Pride event and will be attending other Pride events throughout Manitoba, including this weekend’s Brandon Pride Parade," Amy McGuinness said in the statement.

Falk, who voted at the Conservatives’ recent convention against changing the party’s long-standing opposition to same-sex marriage, has already committed to attending the St. Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies on the morning of the march.

"And has other community events in the riding that day as well," said spokesman Mike Cancade in an email.

Falk’s decision to choose a four-day event involving a frog-jumping championship over such an important "human rights" event for the city angers McHale.

"I am concerned that a Frog Follies event is going to come before attending a human rights event which isn’t going to take all day — the frog follies goes for a number of days," McHale said. "I would want Mr. Falk to explain his rationale of not attending something of this importance."

McHale said Chris Goertzen was the only one of the three who responded to her invitation to come to the march.

In an email to McHale, Steinbach’s mayor said he would be away that weekend.

McHale applauded the positive steps the Progressive Conservative caucus has taken in recent months when it comes to LGBTTQ* rights.

She noted Premier Brian Pallister spoke at Pride Winnipeg and recently announced he was open to having gender-neutral bathrooms at the legislature.

"He wrote a wonderful piece that was put in the Pride guide that had the community feeling hopeful," McHale said. "It looks like there is some movement within the Progressive Conservative party, and so I was hoping that would spill over into the folks representing this area as well."

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca