Thousands of Winnipeggers marched in the city's 31st Pride Parade

Thousands of Winnipeggerscame out to celebratetheir community with fierce pride on Sunday forthe city's 31stannual Pride parade throughthe downtown.

"I'm here to celebrate pride. I am an openly gay male and I am very excited to be here," said Dan Degagne. "It's really nice to be at a place where I feel free to express myself and to be who I am and be authentic and be in a community full of other people who feel the same way."

The parade startedat 11 a.m. at Memorial Park in front of the Manitoba Legislative Building before going down York Avenue and then on to Fort Street. It endedat Bonnycastle Park on AssiniboineAvenue, and a party was then held at the Forks.

Many people attending had a special connection to Pride Winnipeg.

"I came out about fiveyears ago. Coming to these events made it more easy for me to come out," said NickHradowy. "Iknew I was not alone and that I was not strange." He said, before Pride helived in fear.

"We used to see the events on TV and news and I'd talk to myfriendsat work and it was a very corporate world," he said."So it was basically 'youwere dirty people. Strange people. The way they dress the way they behave.'"

"There is still a long way to go, but we are getting there. I'm glad that there are parts of the [law] now that protect me."

Many of Manitoba's political leaders,including Mayor Brian Bowman and Premier Brian Pallister,attended and spoke at the event to commemorate it.

"We live in the most beautiful city in the most accepting and open country on the face of the earth, andwe should be thankful for that today as we celebrate, as we set the example for others," Pallister said.

Pallistercompared the event to the Manitoba farmers currently sowing their crops, saying "we plant seeds of hope today so that hope can grow."

SarahFordehamwas comforted to hear see her political leaders there.

"It was great to see a lot of the politicians out today," she said. "It is great to have support from your government and feel accepted."