Marshals for the 2014 Pride Winnipeg Parade have been announced, who will embody the spirit of the festival May 23 to June 1.
An Iran refugee, who is only being identified as “Hamed,” will be the grand marshal. Hamed came to Canada two years ago from Turkey, after his boyfriend’s family found out about their relationship and threatened to kill him.
The honorary youth marshal will be Even Maydaniuk, who started one of the city’s first gay-straight alliances in a high school setting.
Reaching Out Winnipeg, a program to help people who face serious persecution and discrimination based on their sexual identity, has been named the honorary community group marshal.
“We at Pride Winnipeg are excited to have these marshals lead our parade,” said Jonathan Niemczak, president of Pride Winnipeg. “Each of them perfectly exemplify what it means to help people live and love without borders, not only locally but internationally as well.”
