In Chamagua’s words, Marquesa is “an always-morphing being, free to explore and play with different eras and styles. At her core, she’s her own definition of femininity and power, with a touch of comic style, and always embraces her Salvadoran roots.”

Marquesa is Chamagua’s drag queen persona and expression of his queer pride and artistry.

Chamagua recognizes how working as a performer requires a certain business knack, but is quick to acknowledge that drag is a form of art and advocacy first.

“Just like any entrepreneur, drag queens have overhead costs (costumes, wigs, makeup, transportation) and revenue streams (performance fees, merchandise sales, tips), and they offer services (hosting events, emceeing, leading workshops), all while managing the complexities of self-employment.

“However, drag queens also merge their personal identity with their drag persona, engaging with audiences through this artistic expression. They are deeply connected to 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, often serving as activists and advocates, and we face unique challenges related to visibility and safety in society,” he explains.

He does all of this, while launching his own queer event company and brand Revel.Sync with fellow UM alum Zachary Rushing [BJazz/21], pursuing his Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker and Chartered Insurance Professional designations, serving clients at Columbia Insurance and engaging with communities of insurance professionals.

A member of the Young Brokers Network of the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba, Chamagua has served in management roles previously, supported by his BComm training, and now hopes to advance his own skills in the field, preparing for future management roles, and striving to bring inclusivity and pride into the corporate world.

“I hope to empower individuals and organizations to take meaningful actions toward creating inclusive spaces that foster conversation, celebrate differences and challenge biases. The speed at which organizations are willing to adapt and change varies, but step by step, we are building the foundation for sustainable social change.”

On stage and in the office, Chamagua is committed to advocating for inclusive spaces that support people to be their best and most authentic selves, to help queer people feel safe and empowered at work and beyond.

Reflecting on what Pride means to him, Chamagua thinks about communities that embrace difference, noting that one of the highlights of his Asper experience was connecting with a wonderful network of international students.

He also thinks about when he first became interested in drag, which began with a knee-jerk “no.” Asked by a working drag artist if he would ever consider it, he was surprised by how hastily he responded.

“I had to wonder, as a proud gay man, why was my immediate answer “no”? I reflected, and realized that I needed to confirm if I was choosing not to embrace my femininity or if I was afraid to embrace this part of me, so I went against every instinct to put myself out of my comfort zone as Marquesa, and I have definitely grown from it.”

Marquesa’s origin story is also the story of Chamagua becoming more comfortable in expressing himself fully and authentically, embracing his own unique expression of femininity, masculinity and queerness in his day-to-day life.

“Marquesa is my personal reminder to continue to resist conformity by being true to myself,” he says.

And this is at the heart of what Pride means to Chamagua: a celebration of living authentically, of choice and of freedom from fear, amplified during an exciting week in June, but vital every day of the year.

UM’s Pride celebrations are a reflection of UM’s continued allyship, enthusiasm and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Take the opportunity to gather and celebrate our pride with UM’s diverse communities!

UM Pride events

Friday, May 24

Campus Pride Week Kick-off

Where: Room 200 – Faculty of Education
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Join us as we kick-off UM Campus Pride 2024. The event will feature special guest speakers and the unveiling of UM’s new pride visual experience. Everyone is invited to a reception with tea, coffee, snacks and other light refreshments.

Monday, May 27

U of Them Climbing Club

Where: Bouldering Room, Frank Kennedy Centre
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

UM Recreation Services continues to create welcoming and safe spaces for the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. Come try out bouldering, offered every Monday with the U of Them climbing group. There is a drop-in fee of $21.

Thursday, May 30

Pride button making

Where: First floor, UMSU University Centre (near UMSU Service Centre)
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

UMSU with the Rainbow Pride Centre (RPC) will once again host a button making day! Drop by any time between 11 – 2 to create your own unique buttons to show off at Pride. Pride-themed snacks and drinks will also be served.

Sunday, June 2

Winnipeg Pride Parade

Meet time: 10:45 a.m.
Meeting location: Memorial Boulevard

Parade: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Parade route: North on Memorial Boulevard, East down Portage Avenue to the Forks.

By registering to walk or roll in the parade with UM, you’ll receive the newly re-designed UM Pride merchandise while supplies last. Come early to get your fan, t-shirt, buttons or bubbles. Bring your friends, family, pets and join our UM community as we dance to DJ tunes, celebrate amongst the bubbles and enjoy being part of the largest crowd in the parade!

Following the parade, all are welcome to enjoy the onsite entertainment, vendors and festival events.

Register to participate today!

That commitment is demonstrated year round, most notably each June during Pride Month through UM’s active support of and participation in one of the most prominent community events, the Pride Winnipeg Parade.

As Pride evolves, so too should our visual experience and the look and feel of UM Pride. To help guide us on how UM should be represented and reflected at Pride, we want to hear from you, our community. Take a few minutes to fill out the

Bring your voice and ideas about how we appear at the parade, what a new or refreshed t-shirt design could incorporate, what giveaways could be and other new ideas to help elevate the UM Pride experience. All aspects of Pride are centered around community and inclusivity, and it is with this mindset that we embark on the next version of our visual experience of UM Pride.

You can participate in open in-person consultation sessions on the Fort Gary and Bannatyne campuses, or through the online feedback form. The online form will open on Monday, January 22 and close on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

Fort Garry campus
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Location: Engineering – Room E2-150
Time: 12 -2 p.m.

Bannatyne campus
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Location: Brodie Centre – Room 405
Time: 12 -2 p.m.

Our community is diverse and we want to make sure that every voice is heard and represented in our new pride visual experience. We look forward to hearing from you!

Pride Month is an annual celebration each June. Pride Week is an annual celebration by Pride Winnipeg. The next Pride Week will take place May 24 – June 2, 2024 with the annual Pride Winnipeg Parade taking place on June 2.

Two-Spirit Elder Charlotte Nolin is an elder in residence at Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at the University of Manitoba. She is an Indigenous person of Métis ancestry – Oji-Cree and French – a survivor of the “Sixties Scoop” and a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. 

Following the passing of her wife 13 years ago, Elder Nolin realized that life is short and it’s important to make a positive impact while we’re here.  

“I want to leave a good footprint behind that others will follow,” says Elder Nolin. “If I can convince one person to follow in my footsteps, then they may convince two people to follow in theirs, and so on, so down the road there will be a whole bunch of people walking in them.” 

Elder Nolin has spent the last 35 years of her career working in social services, and along with being an Elder-in-Residence at Ongomiizwin, she is a Sweat Lodge keeper. She believes that the way to help her people is through social work and ceremony. 

“When people come to me, I never turn anyone away. To me, when we do a Sweat Lodge ceremony, the doors are open to everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re coming and asking for ceremony, for healing, it’s there for you. We’ve existed in a world that’s been so cruel in the past, and I want to do my part to change that.” 

Through her role with the University, Elder Nolin looks to her own journey to help others. 

“For me, it’s the opportunity to share some of my story with people who have never heard it before. So they have a better understanding of who we are as 2SLGBTQQIA people. If the knowledge that I share with people can help them in their journeys, and to have a better life because of it, then I’ve done my work.” 

Elder Nolin believes that the world has come a long way, but that there is still much work to be done to fight racism, homophobia, trans-phobia and hate. 

“Institutions need to start to realize that we are here. We’re part of the University and things have to change from the status quo,” says Elder Nolin. “We all have to start learning again. Everything we’ve learned, we have to kind of throw the bad stuff away, keep the good stuff, and start looking forward to how we’re going to behave in the future.” 

For Elder Nolin, Pride is about being proud of being a human being, first and foremost, and she has a challenge for the UM community: 

“To all the people that work at the University, to all the students that attend, I challenge each and every one of you to stand in front of a mirror, look into those eyes that are looking back at you, and repeat these three little words: I love you. Without looking right or left, up or down, straight into those eyes. Most people can’t do it – it takes practice. It took me three weeks to be able to do it.  

I hope people will take the time to look in the mirror. Once you realize you can love yourself, you can love your neighbour. That’s why we’re all here. To learn how to love our neighbour.” 

The Indigenous Student Centre offers sharing circles for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and allies during the academic year. Check out the Indigenous Events Calendar in fall for programming details.