MONTREAL — Taking part in his third Pride parade as prime minister on Sunday, Justin Trudeau said the world looks to Canada for leadership in the fight for universal recognition of the human rights of gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Just like in the Toronto and Vancouver parades, Trudeau became the first sitting prime minister to walk in Montreal’s Pride march and was welcomed warmly by the thousands of people who came out for the festivities.
In his remarks before the march, Trudeau said it’s still important for politicians to take part in Pride parades because “there is still a lot of work to do.”
The governing Liberals recently introduced transgender rights legislation. Reports last week said Ottawa will soon offer a formal apology to people in the LGBTQ community for past state-sponsored discrimination.
“We know people look to Canada to see the example,” he said in French. “And we will continue to work hard to push the limits of what other countries do because we have to send the message that LGBTQ rights are human rights.”
American actress and LGBT activist Raven-Symoné takes part in the annual annual Pride Montreal 2016 Parade in Montreal on August 14, 2016. Trudeau is the first head of state of the G7 countries to attend a gay pride march for the LGBT rights.
U.S. actress and TV host Raven-Symoné, who was an honorary co-president of this year’s parade, told reporters that LGBTQ people are more than their sexuality or gender. They are educators, doctors, politicians and family, she said.
“Others try to describe our community in just two things: sex and gender,” she said. “And, sadly, because of their lack of understanding, what happens in our bedroom and in our pants cast shadows on who we are as people.”
Alongside Trudeau were many provincial and municipal politicians, including Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said reports that Trudeau will formally apologize to the gay community is an “excellent opportunity to remove the prejudice that is on the books today.”
“When you’re apologizing you have to remember what you’re apologizing for,” Mulcair said, referring to the fact that men who have sex with men face more restrictions on giving blood than do other Canadians.
“While apologizing, which is fair enough, we should remove the prejudice that exists now,” Mulcair added.
A moment of silence was observed at the start of the parade for the shooting victims at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in June.
The parade kicked off at 1 p.m. on René-Lévesque Blvd. at the corner of St-Mathieu St.and headed east to Sanguinet St.
Some 150 groups and 6,000 people participated in the parade.
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