“A positive, optimistic, hopeful vision of public life isn’t a naive dream, it can be a powerful force for change,” Justin Trudeau said in his acceptance speech. Adhering to that statement, the Prime Minister has made Canadian history by announcing his decision to walk in the 2016 Toronto Pride Parade.
As a prominent subject of social media debate, the recurring theme tends to be the extent of the importance of his participation. Is our prime minister’s involvement in the parade inherently important?
This won’t be Trudeau’s first march with Toronto Pride. He previously participated in 2015, demonstrating his avocation for human rights. The focus should not be, however, the implications on LGBTQ+ history in Canada, but international social reform.
The real theme of Pride Month 2016 is “You can sit with us,” referencing and retorting to the iconic movie Mean Girls, and that seems to be the real importance of the parade—the fact that inclusion and connection are present among the Canadian community and even beyond that.
Trudeau’s tweet about his excitement to be part of the parade was shared around the world. It initiated conversation, public interest, and media hype for Toronto Pride and the LGBTQ+ community it represents.
His decision is an example for leaders around the world. It isn’t so much that one man is walking, but the promotion and optimism he conveys. The discourse of Pride is now being represented and shared, extending to all cultures and communities. Functioning as a symbol and advocating for change is the real significance of Trudeau’s decision.
“It’s time for a change in this country, my friends, a real change,” he said. Trudeau is now creating international change for the world. Canadian media are broadcasting the debate, reflecting on the importance and historical significance of Trudeau’s participation, also calling upon the prime minister’s other movements towards human rights and equality.
His ethnically diverse cabinet, dedication for mending Aboriginal relations with the government, and inclusion of women in politics have made steps toward Canada becoming a symbol of acceptance.
So the Mean Girls theme really does fit in with this year’s Pride and certainly with Trudeau’s participation.
As a character in the movie says, “I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school. I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy.”
It shouldn’t matter that a prime minister hasn’t walked in the Pride parade before, but it’s important that one is now. Trudeau is constructing an example of a connected community including all of Canada, which ought to be a role model for other countries.
