Trudeau raises Pride flag on Parliament Hill

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised a Pride flag on Parliament Hill in recognition of the people who have "fought a long time" to secure equal rights for LGBT Canadians.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a pride flag raising ceremony on Parliament Hill, Wednesday, June 1, 2016 in Ottawa (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raises the pride flag on Parliament Hill for the first time. Source: AAP

Canadian Prime Ministier Justin Trudeau has put up a rainbow flag on Parliament Hill to mark the start of Pride Month.

It's the first time the flag, which is a symbol of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, has been flown at Parliament Hill to recognise people in the LGBTQ community who fought to secure equal rights, during a month celebrating sexual and gender diversity.

Mr Trudeau said it was a great day for the country and raising the flag was part of a long series of milestones Canada has hit over the years.
"It hasn't been easy, it hasn't been automatic, a lot of people fought for a long time for this day to happen," Mr Trudeau told CBC News.

He said the country had united in defending and standing up for LGBTQ rights, but there was still more work to be done.

Treasury board president Scott Brison said on the day the flag was raised there was a broad consensus across party lines, which he had never seen before.
"People know that LGBTQ rights are human rights and this is a strong sense of who we are as Canadians, and that's a wonderful step forward," Mr Brison said. 

The prime minister is due to march in Toronto's Pride parade and will be the first leader to do so.


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2 min read
Published 2 June 2016 7:26pm
Updated 2 June 2016 7:42pm
Source: SBS News

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