Pride month honoured with movie presentation on historic gay rights case

By Medicine Hat News on June 17, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

A documentary detailing a landmark gay rights case in Alberta will be shown at the Monarch Theatre later this month as a Pride Month Event.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta and Prairie Pride Guild will present “Pride vs. Prejudice: the Delwin Vriend Story” on June 26 at the downtown movie house.

The documentary, produced by the Edmonton Community foundation and the Edmonton Queer History Project, examines the 1998 Supreme Court case which determined protections against discrimination of sexual orientation were covered under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Vriend, a lab instructor, was fired from his job in 1991 and a subsequent claim to the Alberta Human Rights commission refused. His appeal reached the Supreme Court seven years later.

“Stories like Delwin Vriend’s continue to shape how we show up for one another in our own communities,” says Niki Gray, executive director at CFSEA. “We’re honoured to bring this film to southeastern Alberta as part of our ongoing commitment to building strong, inclusive communities.”

More than 20 regional community foundations in Canada will sponsor showings in collaboration with local groups this month.

The film will be shown Thursday, June 26, beginning at 7 p.m.

Admission is free of charge, but limited by capacity. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

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