Winnipeg Pride Parade 2024: Watch online

Love and acceptance, as well as a reminder of the challenges facing the LGBTQ2S+ community, were in the air on Sunday morning.

The Winnipeg Pride Parade, which brings together members of the LGBTQ2S+ community and their allies to celebrate, began with a rally in front of the Manitoba Legislature.

“This week is about compassion, this week is about love, this week is about listening and this week is about pride,” said Sean Irvine, executive director of Pride Winnipeg.

Thousands gathered on the lawn in front of Parliament Building and along the parade route to show their support for the community.

“For 37 years, Winnipeg Pride has opened eyes, promoted courage and understanding, and given the people of this city and this province the opportunity to sing, dance and be as great as they want to be,” Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville said at the rally.

While the mood at the rally was mostly upbeat and encouraging attendees to be awesome and live their lives to the fullest, there were also reminders of the issues that still persist, including attempted book bans, the parental rights movement, and an active rise in hate in recent years toward members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Kai Solomon of The Den, who led the community group, said the fight for equality continues today.

“Our schools have become battlegrounds where the safety and belonging of our children are increasingly under threat, where school administrators do not always work to protect all the students entrusted to their care, and where small but vocal groups are causing real harm to people in our community,” they said.

“This hatred disguised as concern has spread to the general public and threatens the safety of all of us.”

During his speech at the rally before the parade, Prime Minister Wab Kinew took the time to reiterate his support for the LGBTQ2S+ community and encourage everyone to stand up against hate.

“If someone stands up and takes up an issue like parental rights in a very cynical way and thinks they can get away with it because they are the only transgender child in a faraway school who is struggling with it, I want to send a different message today,” Kinew said.

“If you try to do this again in Manitoba, you're not just going to be dealing with the lone transgender child. You're going to be accountable to the premier of Manitoba, to the cabinet of this province and to the entire government of Manitoba.”

A homemade sign along the route of the Pride Parade in Winnipeg on June 2, 2024. (CTV News Winnipeg)

Irvine said people need to listen to the voice of people in the community to move forward.

“I believe education is the cure for ignorance,” he said. “Through the stories of our community, our country can learn, it can grow, and we can move forward and advocate for equality.”

Following the speeches, the parade began marching through downtown to The Forks for the Pride Festival.

For those who can't make it downtown, CTV News Winnipeg is broadcasting the 2024 Pride Rally and Parade live here. The broadcast will be co-hosted by lead anchor Maralee Caruso and weather specialist Colleen Bready, while the team from Katherine Dow and Ace Burpees 103.1 Virgin Radio will chat with special guests along the parade route.

Special coverage begins at 10:00 a.m. CST.

Crowds gather outside the Manitoba Parliament for the 2024 Pride Parade and Rally on June 2, 2024 (CTV News Winnipeg)