Gay Today: World

Canada: 750,000 Flood
Montreal Pride Parade

By Rex Wockner
International News Report

Montreal, Canada -- An estimated 750,000 people took to the streets of downtown August 6 for one of the world's biggest and most spirited gay-pride parades.

Numbers in that range have been seen elsewhere only in Berlin, Cologne, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney and Toronto.

Montreal pride, known as Divers/Cite, pumps an estimated $40 million (US$26 million) into Quebec's economy. Corporate sponsors this year included Coke, Molson and Air Canada.

Mayor Pierre Bourque and federal health minister Allan Rock joined the festivities.

"We are seeing tolerance on a scale never imagined," said Divers/Cite communications director Elana Wright. "In Montreal, everyone gets involved -- married couples, families with children, young people and senior citizens. Montreal is open-minded and open to diversity."

Indeed, the lengthy parade route was lined with apparently straight couples of all ages and lots of children.

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"Montreal is the unique-est of major cosmopolitan urban centers," gay Canadian Olympic gold medal swimmer Mark Tewksbury said in an interview. "The larger community embraces us."

The city is considered the favorite to win the 2006 Gay Games when that decision is made in October in Johannesburg.

"Montreal's bid for the Gay Games has the chance to move the movement forward," Tewksbury said. "Done right, the Gay Games can show what that Olympic spirit really is."

Tewksbury will make Montreal's final presentation in Johannesburg.

"The Federation of Gay Games, their mandate is participation, inclusion, acceptance," he said. "Montreal is the only city that is bidding that, should we win, will allow HIV-positive people into our country. Montreal is the right place to do it."