A celebratory mood prevailed at the “Church on Church Street” Sunday morning, as the gay village congregation hosted a slew of top Canadian politicians, headlined by Kathleen Wynne, Canada’s first openly gay premier.

Wynne received a hero’s welcome from the hundreds gathered on the final day of Pride Week, as Rev. Brent Hawkes hailed her as a pioneer.

Hawkes said he never thought he would live to see a gay Ontario premier. “We’re so proud of who you are and what you do,” he told Wynne, who was sitting in the front row, flanked by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and his predecessor Bob Rae.

The minister added that the gay community in Toronto had much to be grateful for, including “overcoming the worst of the AIDS crisis, when every week there was another funeral.”

But in his sermon, Hawkes cautioned against getting “caught in the bubble of gratitude.”

“The bible says to whom much is given, much will be required,” he said. “There is still work to do.”

Hawkes noted the dire conditions for LGBT people in many countries around the world.

“This would not be able to happen in Russia,” he said, referring to Saturday’s crackdown on Pride celebrations in St. Petersburg, where some 60 gay rights activists were arrested. A recent Pew survey found that just 16 per cent of Russians think homosexuality should be accepted by society.

“In the 21st century, it’s unacceptable,” said Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, when asked by the Star what he would say to Vladimir Putin about Russia’s checkered gay rights record. “Modern up.”

Hawkes introduced Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair at the same time, saying “both of you are profoundly decent people,” before the political rivals shook hands.

The truce was short-lived, however, as Mulcair took shots at Trudeau after the ceremony for being absent during a vote on the NDP’s transgender rights bill in March.

The federal Conservatives got a frostier reception when Hawkes suggested some in the audience might support the Harper government. A smattering of boos followed. “Two of you just clapped,” Hawkes joked.

The ceremony — which was held on an open-air stage in a lot at Carlton and Church — opened with a rendition of “I’m Coming Out” by the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto choir.

Politicians were dressed casually for the event: MP and possible mayoral candidate Olivia Chow sported a rainbow boa, and Trudeau tapped a leather thong-clad foot to the choral music that punctuated the morning’s speeches.

But Wynne was centre-stage Sunday, as supporters mobbed her after the event, pressing the premier into photos and embracing her.

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Leanne Gosse said she thanked Wynne for the courage it takes to be an openly gay politician. Gosse said she, like Wynne, was married to a man before coming out as gay. When her father heard that Ontario’s premier was a lesbian, it helped him understand his daughter’s identity, Gosse said.

“To me, that is a hero.”

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