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“We’re here to send a message to the rest of the world, that we’re going to stand together when acts like this threaten a particular community in a hateful way,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory, who arrived in advance of the event to greet attendees.

“The LGBT community stands together, what we know in Toronto is that we stand with them,” said Tory.

The Mayor said he has spoken to Toronto Police chief Mark Saunders, and that security plans for upcoming Toronto Pride festivities are being reviewed: “We’re gonna be safe in this city, we’re gonna embrace our LGBT friends and we’re gonna celebrate Pride.”

Speakers at the event included Tory, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, MP Rob Oliphant, Toronto Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Rev. Brent Hawkes.

“There are horrible things that happen in the world and the worst things are the things that we do to each other,” Wynne said. “The only way we can combat that is by loving each other.”

“Homophobia cannot be fought with Islamophobia,” she added. “The more we love each other, the better off we will be. What happened in Orlando happened to all of us, so we have to recognize that.”

It’s not just Toronto who will be focused on more security for the city’s parade — the attack came during Pride month, both in the U.S. and Canada.

“Let’s not pretend that we have no homophobia, no transphobia,” Wynne said. “Let’s not pretend that there’s no racism, let’s not pretend that there’s no sexism. Let’s love each other.”