CALGARY, June 11, 2001 (LSN.ca) - Sunday saw Conservative leader Joe Clark became the first former Canadian Prime Minister to act as grand marshal for a gay pride parade. Before a crowd of approximately 6,000, Clark and wife Maureen McTeer rode along the streets of Calgary in a red convertible leading a long line of homosexual advocates on floats, some dressed in studded leather and condoms.
“I was happy to be part of the celebration,” Clark told reporters. “I’ve always believed in equality and encouraging groups to do their best and make their community better.” Newspaper editorials have pointed to Clark’s participation as a payback to the gay community for helping him win his Calgary seat in the last election from Alliance MP Eric Lowther, one of the strongest pro-family MPs in Parliament.
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