Fredericton to hold 1st gay pride parade

New Brunswick's capital city is holding its first-ever gay pride parade Sunday, and even a long-time opponent of such festivities appears to be onboard.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside refused to proclaim gay pride week in 1995.

Three years later, the case went to the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and Woodside was ordered to issue the proclamation. He did, but with his microphone turned away and the proclamation barely audible in the council chambers. He apologized the following week.

Woodside, a seven-term mayor, has read the proclamation every year since then. In fact, organizers say Woodside told them he would like to walk with the parade on Sunday, if he wasn't out of town.

Organizer Barb MacMullin hopes Woodside will make an appearance when he returns. The festival runs until Aug. 15.

The rainbow flag went up Friday outside Fredericton's city hall to kick off the festivities, and MacMullin says she hopes people of all sexual orientation will come to the events.

The theme of the festival is "Just Love," she said.

"What our group is hoping to do is make some bridges between the queer community and the trans community and the community of sexual minorities and the mainstream," she said. "So absolutely everyone is welcome and invited."