Justin Trudeau Becomes 1st Canadian PM to March in LGBT Pride, Talks Issues

Justin Trudeau, 44, became the first Canadian prime minister to march in an LGBT pride parade Sunday and talked about some pressing issues in the country, the Guardian reports.

"I've been coming to this for years," he told the Guardian in a video clip. "It's sort of frustrating that it has to be a big thing. it shouldn't be a big thing that the prime minister is walking in a Pride parade and from now on it won't."

Trudeau, who walked in the downtown Toronto, Ontario parade with other lawmakers, told a TV station during the parade that Canada is looking into the option of gender-neutral options on drivers' licenses. Though he did not give details on the issue, he said the government is exploring "the best way" and studying other jurisdictions that have gender-neutral options.

"That's part of the great arc of history sweeping towards justice," he told local news station CP24.

The Guardian reports the Canadian province of Ontario will allow a third gender indication, X, on drivers' licenses. Australia, New Zealand and Nepal have all adopted the X gender indication.

Trudeau also commented on Canada's stance on blood donations from men who have sex with other men. Last month, the country relaxed its policy, but the PM said that was "not good enough." Like the U.S., the Canadian Blood Services' policy states men who have sex with men can only donate blood after one year of abstinence. Before the recent change, men who have sex with men had to abstain from sex for five years before donating blood.

Trudeau also said in the wake of the Pulse gay club shooting in Orlando, Fla. Toronto's LGBT Pride event is even more important this year.

"We have to remember the importance of safe spaces and safe communities, like the Pulse was, is something to uphold," he said, according to the Guardian.

Watch Trudeau march in Toronto's LGBT Pride in video below.