The Canadian Prime Minister became the country’s first sitting leader to march in Vancouver’s annual parade, after also becoming the first to march in Pride Toronto’s parade earlier this month.
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The theme of this year’s Pride week is “Better Together the power to create change when people work in unity”.
The 38th annual Vancouver Pride Parade had thousands marching in it, but the main attraction appeared to be the prime minister and his wife and children who were feted on the parade route on Sunday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau runs to greet a participant as his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and kids Hadrien, Ella Grace and Xavier take part in the Pride Parade in downtown Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, July, 31, 2016.
Vancouver police said they won’t being their armoured vehicle to Sunday’s parade, but they will still be present. “And all these things together means we’re going to have a great Pride”. “It just shows that the government is supporting the actions of the community”, he said.
The Prime Minister has marched in Pride parades in Vancouver and Toronto for years, but never before as the leader of his country, tweeting: “I am proud to march with you again, and this time as your PM!”
This year, pride flags with photos of the Orlando shooting victims dotted the crowd, a serious note amid the music and costumes. “We love to celebrate pride, it’s all about inclusion in Vancouver, it’s great to have the prime minister here too”.
The event drew some controversy when the activist group Black Lives Matter called for the Vancouver police to withdraw from the parade, saying allowing officers to participate on a float was “insulting” to protesters who made Pride celebrations possible.
A message of love from the 2016 Pride Parade in Vancouver.
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Another group, the queer Muslim group Salaam, planned to hold its own March of Monday in support of Black Lives matter because, members said, they did not feel safe participating because of the police participation.
