Justin Trudeau becomes first Canadian Prime Minister to march at Pride
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made history this weekend as the country’s first leader to march at a Gay Pride event.
The 44-year-old Liberal Party leader shored up his place in hearts across the globe as he led Toronto Pride’s march yesterday (July 3), while enthusiastically brandishing a rainbow flag and drawing roars from the thousands of spectators who lined the city’s streets.
Trudeau is certainly no stranger to shows of LGBT solidarity, but while he’s attended Pride parades in Toronto and Vancouver for year, his first as leader of the country marked an extra special step.
First pride parade #justintrudeau #parade #torontopride #6ix #support #lgbt
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Marching alongside Trudeau was one of the Syrian refugees who’s benefited from the Prime Minister’s pledge to take in thousands of LGBT Syrians as the deadly conflict in their homeland continues.
29-year-old Bassel Mcleash, who arrived in Toronto in May, three years after he was forced to flee his home in Damascus, Syria, told CBC News that attending the event had left him “speechless”.
Syrian refugee Bassel Mcleash (r) marches alongside Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
“The excitement and the emotion that’s happening, it’s overwhelming. It’s too much to handle,” he said.
“Not in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought about having a day like this, marching next to the prime minister or marching in a Pride.”
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