2SLGBTQ+ skate community embraces ‘welcoming’ Winnipeg

Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community who are passionate about skateboarding say they feel embraced by Winnipeg.

“It’s completely different, it’s completely open, it feels so much more welcoming,” said Carson Cary.

The community was out in full force Saturday for Pride Skate. They celebrated the sport they love and what appears to be a new era of skateboarding in the city.

“There’s not many places in Winnipeg that feel so opening as say the queer skate community,” said Cary. “As somebody who grew up queer, it’s definitely a different vibe than a lot of places I’ve been around in Winnipeg and I do know there’s a lot of people here who are two-spirit and trans and everyone feels so welcome.”

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At the park Saturday duel-wielding a pair of cameras – one film and the other digital – Cary was documenting that change. They say what’s happening within the skate community in Winnipeg is important and it’s something that needs to be embraced, celebrated and captured.

“I’ve always taken photos and being able to be a part of this event in this capacity, it feels really special,” said Cary.

And it’s not just skateboarding skills that were on display over the weekend. The event also featured well-known artist Cat Hues, known widely as Pink Panada. Utilizing spray paint as a medium, they teach others about the power of art and community, saying it’s important youth can see themselves in those making it in creative ways.

“I’ve been doing my art for a while, but I also want to make sure that people see this is as an opportunity that you can make a career and do stuff as an artist, as a queer artist, and I think it’s super important to showcase that,” said Hues.

Megan McKay with Crowbar Skates, who helped co-organize the Pride Skate event, is an advocate for trans rights and trans safety. She says it’s amazing to see so many people roll up, be it on a skateboard or roller skates, and support members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Roughly 300 people came through in its second year.

“Creating a space for skateboarders, equity-seeking, diverse skateboarders, especially to us LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC skateboarders, having a place to come out and take over the park, and create a space that’s comfortable and safe for everybody to skate, it’s so near and dear to my heart. It’s very heartwarming to see the turnout out here today.”

Maddy Nowosad with The Other Skaters, another organizer, says the support shows more of those spaces are needed.

“The number of people alone shows that we really need more events like this, we need more spaces like this and there is really a need for more programming like this,” said Nowosad.

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The last few months in the Winnipeg skate community have been turbulent. The city’s only indoor skate park in The Edge – ran by Youth For Christ – was boycotted by many due to what they say are harmful and anti-2SLGBTQ+ policies.

The need for gathering spaces is amplified by what Nowosad says is growing hate towards community members in Canada and the U.S.

“Especially with the political climate that we are experiencing right now,” said Nowosad. “There’s a lot of attacks, legislative attacks and also threats of physical violence against the 2SLGBTQ+ community so a lot of the support efforts that in the skateboarding community are working on, is responding to that need in the community.”