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Calgary’s lone Liberal MP Kent Hehr is pleading with Calgary Pride to allow him to participate in Sunday’s parade after the organization banned all political parties from marching under their party banners.

In an open letter, Hehr defended his record and that of his party’s in supporting LGBTQ rights. He called upon Calgary Pride to reverse its decision, which he said equates his efforts to that of the current provincial government, which he said has threatened LGBTQ rights.

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“With this decision, it doesn’t matter what I stand for, or the changes I have worked to bring over many years. When it comes time to march, I am classified as equal to Premier (Jason) Kenney, who just this year threatened GSAs (gay-straight alliances) with Bill 8,” said Hehr.

“In my view, the decision to exclude longtime active supporters, political or not, does not reflect the history and meaning of Pride.”

Based on Calgary Pride’s scoring system, only the New Democratic Party would have been approved to march in the upcoming parade.

However, the organization said only approving the NDP would unfairly represent some political parties and exclude community members with differing political allegiances.