Singing 'all lives matter' like asking why straight people don't have parade, says Kathleen Wynne

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says that when peoplesay "all lives matter" in response to Black Lives Matter, it reminds her of people saying, "Why don't straight people have aparade?"

Wynne, who is openly gay, responded to questions Thursday about amember of The Tenors changing the national anthem's lyrics at theMajor League Baseball all-star game to the controversial phrase.

"I think what is heard by people who heard him sing that isthat, 'You don't understand what we're saying. What we're saying isthat there's a particular issue,"' she said.

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"It's like when people have said to me in the past, 'Well,straight people don't have a parade. Why don't straight people havea parade? Everybody should be proud of who they are.' Well, yeah,that's true, but straight people experience life differently thangay, lesbian, bi, transgender (and) two-spirited people. So I thinkthat there's a lot of misunderstanding that happens when we get intothe use of language in this way."

Issues of racism 'to be taken seriously'

SingerRemigioPereirainserted "all lives matter" into OCanada while singing a solo verse of the anthem on Tuesday night andheld up a sign bearing the message.

He has since said that his motivation was to "bring us alltogether" and that he meant no disrespect to Black Lives Matterbecause "they most definitely do."

Wynne said it looks like he "made a big, big mistake in terms ofhis career."

Ahead of attending a public meeting Thursday night of Ontario'snewly established anti-racism directorate, Wynne said Pride Torontoand Black Lives Matter Toronto will have to discuss their issuesseparately from her input.

Black Lives Matter temporarily halted the Pride parade to issue aseries of demands that included more funding and betterrepresentation for racialized communities during Pride events. Italso called for a ban on police floats in future parades.

Wynne said people can discuss specific tactics, but the group israising issues of systemic racism "that have to be takenseriously."

"People have a right to peaceful protest and we as a governmenthave a responsibility, and I would suggest we as a society have aresponsibility, to tackle the challenges of systemic discriminationas we see them."

Wynne stepped outside the Ontario legislature in April to speakto a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters and told them she waswilling to set up a formal meeting. That has not yet happened, butWynne said Thursday that it would take place "later in the fall,perhaps."