Toronto kicks off first-ever Pride Month

It's a first for Toronto: after 35 years of Pride Week, Tuesdaymarked the launch of the city's and the country's first-ever Pride month.

Festivities kicked offwith a noon ceremony downtown, as therainbow and Trans Prideflags were raised at city hall.

This year will also see another first: JustinTrudeaumarching in the annual Pride parade. He will be the first sitting prime minister to do so.

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In his remarks Mayor Tory acknowledged the history of Pride, noting that when it began "it took to the streets in the form of a protest following the [bathhouse] raids in 1981, and here we are 35 years later, where a protest has become a parade...embracing a respect for right, but also for people."

The origins of Pride actually go back even further: in 1971 a Gay Day Picnic was heldat Hanlan's Point; Toronto's first Pride Week was commemorated one year later.

Mayor Tory was joined by Coun.Kristyn Wong-Tam,who gave opening remarks at today's event,leaders fromPride Toronto,more than a dozen council colleagues, and excited members of the public.

"This June, everyone is at home in Toronto,"Aaron GlynWilliams, co-chairof Pride Toronto's board of directors, told the assembled crowd.

GlynWilliams also made some frank comments about relations between theLGBTand other communities, saying that"our community can be especially discriminating along intersections of race, gender identity, and age," and pledging thatPride was puttingan emphasis on bridging those divides.

Black Lives Matter activists will help lead the Pride parade this year.

Many of the major cultural institutions in Toronto will also be taking part in Pride Month, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, theArt Gallery of Ontario, TIFF, and the Royal Ontario Museum.