Heavy rain didn't dampen spirit at Capital Pride parade

The wet weather couldn'tdampen the spirit at this year's Capital Pride parade in Ottawa as hundreds of people lined the parade route in Centretown Sundayto celebrate diversity and show support for the LGBTcommunity.

This year's parade had a special significance for John Aubry because just twodays earlier he proposed to his future husband.

"I've lived through the 80s, the 90s. I've lived through the AIDS crisis...I've buried a lot of friends," said Aubry."I never thought that I would see the time when this kind of diversity would be accepted in this city."

Mayor Jim Watson rode alongside other city councillors in the parade that toured up Gladstone Avenue toKent Streetand then downLaurierAvenue.back to Bank Street.

Police officers were also well represented in the parade wearing their uniforms,smiling and waving to the crowds.

Police participation in Pride parades was in the spotlight last month,whenmembers of Toronto's Black Lives Matter movement briefly halted Toronto's Pride parade. Theydemandedorganizersno longer include police floats in the parade.

The chair of Ottawa's pride festival, Tammy Dopson, saidorganizers had no intention of excluding anyone.

She said it was important for everyone to show up this yearin light of theshooting inOrlando in June where50people were killed and 53 others injured in a gay nightclub.

"That was a reminder of the most horrific kind that we are not where we need to be in terms of equal rights," said Dopson.

"So I think showing up and supporting and celebrating where we've been, where we are and where we have to be is very important."

Lily Lachapelle agreed as she huddled under an umbrella proudly wearing a rainbow flag.

"I feel like the LGBT community as a whole for so long has been so scared to be who they are and to be out and to be proud and so to be able to do things like this is awesome," she said.