Trudeau becomes first sitting PM to march in Vancouver Pride Parade

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Justin Trudeau, a known supporter of the LGBT community, on Sunday became the first Canadian prime minister to march in Vancouver's Pride Parade.

"Today we celebrate diversity, we celebrate community, we celebrate family and all these things together means that we are going to have a great pride and it's a pleasure for me to be here," Trudeau said during the 38th anniversary of the event, attended by about 500,000 people.

Though Trudeau had previously attended the Vancouver Pride Parade, his appearance on Sunday was the first time a sitting prime minister marched in the event. He attended in 2014 and 2015 as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

"It's a time where the whole city, families, communities come out, we celebrate the great diversity that is such a strength of our country," Trudeau said. "We celebrate community, we celebrate family and all these things together. It means we're going to have a great pride and it's a pleasure for me to be here."

The Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre was referenced often during the Pride Parade. On June 12, 49 people were killed at the gay nightclub in Orlando by Omar Mateen.

Happy Pride, Vancouver! I am proud to march with you again, and this time as your PM! #bettertogether #vanpride2016 pic.twitter.com/1Zjv1LiXtR

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 31, 2016