Pride Toronto announced on Sep 8 that it will bid to host World Pride in 2014.
“We believe that hosting World Pride 2014 in Toronto will engage and inspire people from around the world, be a fabulous celebration of Pride and showcase Toronto as one of the most diverse and accepting cities in the world,” wrote Pride Toronto cochair Mark Singh in a Pride Toronto press release.
World Pride is presented and awarded by InterPride, an international association of Pride coordinators. The first World Pride was held in Rome in 2000. It attracted an estimated 200,000 celebrants and drew ire from the Vatican and Catholics around the world.
The second installment was set for Jerusalem in 2006. It drew similar protests from orthodox religious elements in Israel but was cancelled after Israeli police pressed organizers to postpone the event due to the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.
London UK is set to host World Pride in 2012.
The Toronto proposal will include an opening ceremony, an international human rights conference and a variety of networking and social events.
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