The BBC and Time magazine reported on a Canadian family that encountered Trudeau while hiking in Quebec’s Gatineau Park last month and took a selfie with the prime minister, who was not wearing a shirt.
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Thousands of people greeted the prime minister with loud cheers as he led the parade through Montreal’s Rene Levesque Blvd toward the city’s Gay Village in the east end.
Among G7 countries he is the only head of government or head of state to have participated in a Gay Pride parade.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to members of the LGBTQ community prior to attending the annual pride parade in Montreal on Sunday.
“It’s important that all parties are here to recognize that the rights of the LGBT community are Canadian and human rights”, Trudeau said before the event, sporting a seafoam green button-up and white trousers.
Trudeau noted that the government would focus on recognizing transgender rights this year.
“I am proud to be the first prime minister to participate in the #FiertéMTL parade”, he wrote on his Twitter page in French, referring to the Pride’s hashtag.
Montreal Pride was attended by a number of celebrities and notable Canadians, including the honorary co-president of the event, Raven-Symone.
Federal officials have said infrastructure funding was among the topics Trudeau is expected to discuss with Atlantic politicians.
“Others try to describe our community in just two things: sex and gender, ” she said.
Alongside Trudeau were many provincial and municipal politicians including Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.
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“While apologizing, which is fair enough, ” Mulcair said, “we should remove the prejudice that exists now”.
