Pride Parade takes over downtown Vancouver streets in colourful celebration

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver’s Pride Parade is taking over downtown streets today as members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community celebrate equality and love.

Around 650,000 people have filled the streets to mark the city’s 41st annual pride celebrations.

The Prime Minister is among those marching today. He became the first sitting PM to march in the Vancouver Pride Parade in 2016, and was back again last year. Trudeau also visited a gay bar on Davie Street when he was in Vancouver last week. 

Trudeau says the fight for equality in the LGBTQ+ community is not over.

“Unfortunately the LQBTQ community, particularly the trans community, have suffered tremendous discrimination that continues today.”

He says events like pride are still important and its notable who decided to show up to Vancouver’s pride parade today.

“I’m glad to be here walking alongside a number of party leaders including Jagmeet Singh and Elizabeth May,” he says. “It shows we are standing unequivocally with human rights in defense of Canadians.”

He adds it’s unfortunate there are still federal party leaders that decide to stand with those who are intolerant.

Federal NDP leader and Burnaby South MP Jagmeet Singh is attending, as is B.C. Premier John Horgan. Horgan released a statement about the event, saying:

“We march to show that love is love, and we march so everyone can feel safe and free to express themselves, no matter what their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.”

There are a number of road closures related to the parade, which you can find here.