Toronto Pride: So this is what the Conservatives helped fund!

There’s been much  drama over this year’s announcement of the Conservative government funding Toronto Pride. But just who was at this mega gay parade? Men in leather jockstraps, drag queens and  porn stars, naturally. But also pro-Israel groups, anti-Israel groups, gay Anglicans—and the Canadian Armed Forces doing recruitment. Several on-duty police forces wore festive gear. While politicians from the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, the Liberals and the NDP were out in full force. And Rick Mercer.

Iggy at Toronto Pride.

Toronto Liberal MP Bob Rae shows off his huge umbrella.

NDP leader Jack Layton, with his MP wife Olivia Chow, shows off his huge rainbow umbrella.

Layton points to a Toronto police officer’s colourful socks.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath.

Victor Musaka, International Grand Marshal for Toronto Pride. Musaka has been involved and founded several groups in Africa: Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), Freedom and Roam Uganda, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, and Trans Africa, a network of African Transgender activists.

Toronto Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy.

Toronto Liberal MP Mario Silva.

Toronto Liberal MP Rob Oliphant.

Jill Fairbrother, Michael Ignatieff’s director of communications.

Liberal threesome at Pride: Iggy, Gerard Kennedy and Bob Rae.

The Liberal float.

Ontario Progressive Conservative party marchers.

Former Toronto Progressive Conservative candidate Pamela Taylor.

NDP leader Jack Layton and Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow.

(Left to right) Ontario NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo, former Toronto NDP MP Peggy Nash and Ontario NDP MPP Peter Tabuns.

NDP marchers.

Toronto city councillor Kyle Rae (left) and Toronto mayor David Miller.

Toronto Transit Commission chair and city councillor Adam Giambrone with drag queens.

Marcher with the TTC group.

Rick Mercer.

Reverend Brent Hawkes.

Pride parade and festivities.