Green leaders show their Pride

Green Party contingent to march in Toronto Pride Parade

TORONTO — The Green banner will fly alongside the rainbow flag on Sunday when Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May and Green Party of Ontario Leader Frank de Jong lead a 100-strong Green contingent in Toronto’s Pride Parade.

May and de Jong will join in the festivities as the annual parade — the highlight of Pride Week — winds its way through the streets of downtown Toronto. They will fashion themselves as “Green Superheroes” and are pledging a carbon-free contribution by not using any fuel-powered vehicles in the parade. Ms. May and her daughter Victoria Cate will ride in a rickshaw.

“It is a great privilege to be able to celebrate the rich history and culture of Canada’s lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) communities amid the exciting spectacle of one of the world’s biggest Pride parades,” said Ms. May.

She said that the federal Green Party and provincial Green Party organizations across Canada have a long history of support for LGBT people. In 1996, it became the first federal party to officially support the inclusion of same-sex couples in civil marriage. It remains the only federal party to have had an openly gay leader – Chris Lea, who led the party from 1990 to 1996.

De Jong said: “The Green Party of Ontario is a longtime champion of equal rights for LGBT people, and the Pride Parade is a great way to show our support.

“It’s been over four years since Ontario became the first province to legalise marriage for same-sex couples but we feel there still progress to be made by increasing awareness and acceptance of the LGBT community and the issues that affect them.”

Anyone who wants to march with the Green Superheroes should meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. at spot M100c, on Bloor St. east of Church St. Wear something green, brown or yellow.

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Contact:
Camille Labchuk
613-882-4761