RCMP rethink sidewalk-only Pride permit

Mounties initially denied authorization to hold march on Steinbach’s streets

RCMP said Wednesday they are reassessing their decision to deny a permit to the first Steinbach Pride parade to march on the street.

The Mounties support the Steinbach Pride parade and will march alongside participants on the morning of July 9, the RCMP declared Wednesday afternoon.

Other parades and events have closed down streets in Steinbach, a city of 14,000 people 65 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.

But the Mounties told organizers of the July 9 Pride March they would have to stick to sidewalks because a lane of the street along the march route is partially under construction.

There has been a permit all along for the Pride participants to use the sidewalk to march from Steinbach United Church to city hall, RCMP Sgt. Bert Paquet said by email.

Said Paquet: “The RCMP fully supports the LGBT community and the Steinbach Pride Parade. The Steinbach RCMP has been working with event organizers to find a safe route for the parade and its participants.

“While a (street) permit was initially declined for safety reasons, we are reassessing the request. Our primary concern was and remains the safety of event participants. Our officers will be there to ensure security and are looking forward to walking alongside participants on July 9,” Paquet said.

RCMP to review permit denial for Pride parade in Steinbach

The RCMP say they will re-assess a decision to decline a permit for the first ever gay Pride parade planned for a city in the heart of what’s known as Manitoba’s Bible Belt.

Other parades and events have closed down streets in Steinbach, a city of 14,000 people 65 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.

But the Mounties told organizers of the July 9 Pride march that they would have to stick to sidewalks because a lane of the street along the march route is partially under construction.

The moved caused an uproar Wednesday and the RCMP later said they would reconsider.

“The RCMP fully supports the LGBT community and the Steinbach pride parade. The Steinbach RCMP has been working with event organizers to find a safe route for the parade and its participants,” a written statement from the RCMP regional headquarters in Winnipeg read.

“While a permit was initially declined for safety reasons, we are re-assessing the request. Our primary concern was and remains the safety of event participants. Our officers will be there to ensure security and are looking forward to walking alongside participants on July 9th.”

The RCMP declined an interview request, as have many local politicians.

‘They can have their march’: Rural Manitoba town forced to have Pride parade on sidewalks

The Pioneers Day parade shuts streets in Steinbach, a rural area known as the bible belt of Manitoba, but the city’s first pride march is being forced on to the sidewalks.

RCMP denied Steinbach Pride a special events permit for its July 9 event, refusing to temporarily close the road it wanted to march along.

“There’s a strong possibility there’s going to be construction on the street at that time, so therefore one of the two lanes will be restricted. We can’t close the street totally because it’s on a Saturday and it’s a busy area,” RCMP Sergeant Joanne Ryll said.

“By all means they can have their march, but they must have it on the sidewalks.”

While the group has agreed to stay off the streets, Michelle McHale, an organizer of Pride March for Equality, said the city closes roads for many other celebrations.