Calgary Pride
 The official logo of Calgary Pride | |
| Type | pride festival |
|---|---|
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | To help see a city free from discrimination against gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation. |
| Headquarters | Calgary |
Region served | Calgary |
| Website | Calgary Pride |
Calgary Pride is an LGBT pride festival, held annually in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The event is organized by Pride Calgary, a non-profit organization, and is currently held in the final week of August, with the closing parade falling on the first weekend of September when necessary, each year.
The event was first held in 1990.[1] The first event was marked by marchers wearing paper bags over their heads, both out of fear of being identified and as a protest against the stigma that keeps LGBT people in the closet.[1] The event was officially recognized by the city in 1991, with the first official proclamation of Pride Week by then-mayor Al Duerr.[2] A separate dyke march was added for the first time in 2010.[2]
The event has often drawn national news coverage for its ability to attract support from influential political figures. In 2001, Joe Clark was the event's grand marshal, becoming the first former Prime Minister of Canada ever to attend a Pride parade in that capacity.[3] In 2011, Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi became the first mayor in the city's history to attend the parade as grand marshal,[4] and in 2012 Alison Redford became the first Premier of Alberta to attend the event.[5] The 2011 event was also noted as the first time that the Calgary Flames, the city's NHL franchise, sponsored a float in the parade.[6]
References
- 1 2 "Pride of the West: Calgary keeps it real". 2B, August 21, 2012.
- 1 2 "Encouraging alliances". FFWD, August 23, 2012.
- ↑ "Clark leads gay pride parade in Calgary". CBC News, June 10, 2001.
- ↑ "Calgary mayor parades into history as Pride marshal". National Post, September 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Calgary Pride: Alison Redford 'Pleased' To Be First Alberta Premier At Festival". Canadian Press via The Huffington Post, August 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Nenshi, Flames boost Pride Parade". Calgary Sun, September 4, 2011.