A tale of two different rallies

Opinion

The term “sign of the times” is most definitely overused in modern journalism but the backstories to two different rallies — one that was cancelled, and one that went ahead — certainly says something about the world we live in now.

Last weekend, the annual Pride rally in Steinbach was called off after organizers reported multiple, credible threats being made against the event and its participants. One organizer said the threats appeared to be specifically in response to last week’s assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.

Just 72 hours after Steinbach Pride was cancelled, roughly 2,000 Kirk followers gathered at the Manitoba legislature to grieve his violent death.

There is no reasonable way to connect any of the people at this rally with those who unjustly threatened Steinbach Pride organizers and participants, but we do know that whoever did it shared a deep admiration for Kirk and — one must assume — his anti-LGBTTQ+ ideology.

A standard bearer for younger, hard-line conservatives, Mr. Kirk was a complex and controversial figure who was well known for disparaging the LGBTTQ+ community.

Even though it is considered a hateful and threatening act, Kirk asserted that it be legal for anyone to burn a Pride flag in public. In the most infamous example of his homophobic beliefs, Kirk referenced biblical passages that called for homosexuals to be stoned to death.

Although the context of Kirk’s statement is still hotly debated, he did refer to these passages as “God’s perfect law when it comes to sexual matters.”

The cancellation of Steinbach Pride was truly disheartening for many reasons. First, that any group in this country supporting any issue of any nature would have to cancel their plans because of threats of violence. And second, because Steinbach Pride has long been seen as one of the most powerful and poignant expressions of LGBTTQ+ culture in Manitoba.

Firm Christian beliefs are considered by many residents to be a big part of what makes this thriving, smaller Manitoba city so special. The peaceful co-existence between Pride supporters and other citizens of Steinbach has been a sign of hope amid very troubled times. The cancellation of this year’s Pride celebrations is, regardless of how someone feels about the lifestyle of those involved, a lamentable step backwards in the causes of tolerance and respect.

These two events do serve as metaphors for the deep divisions that are threatening to tear the United States apart, and which seem to be creeping into this country’s national debate on identity and culture.

Again, the ideological messaging from the Kirk memorial speaks to a future where respect and tolerance will only be shown to people who appear to be on the “right” side of a contentious debate.

The Kirk followers at the legislative building lauded Kirk’s “family” and “Christian values,” but also claimed the activist’s life was a testament to the idea that everyone has the right to speak their minds without fear of reprisal.

At the same time, other Kirk supporters, while championing their right to safely express their beliefs, have used threats of retaliation to prevent other groups from essentially doing the same thing.

This is most definitely one of the brightest and most alarming signs of our times, and it speaks to a future time when only certain groups — those with their hands on the levers of power — will be allowed to safely speak their minds.