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Thousands of people took part in the 2018 Pride parade in downtown Montreal on Sunday, completing a week of Montreal Pride activities.

A group of transgender women and their allies were the first to walk in the march, carrying a sign that read: “Trans women first, never again last.”

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“Each year needs to be reflecting on who’s most marginalized or marginalized differently, and making space for those people to be there and at the front,” said Eve Parker Finley, who was at the front of the march.

“Trans women have been at the forefront of LGBT struggles for more than 50 years,” said Raphaële Sévigny, who was also among those leading the parade.

Supporters lined the sidewalks for the parade’s three kilometres between downtown and the Gay Village. It was Montreal’s 34th Pride parade.

The line of marchers filled up eight blocks as they waited to set off from the corner of René-Lévesque Blvd. and Metcalfe St. Unions, sports teams, roller-derby leagues, political parties, activist groups and government agencies were among the many organizations participating in the parade.

“It’s time that legislators listen to the people who are concerned: trans migrants, trans parents, trans people, trans women. I think that taking the street on Pride today is a way to let them know that we’re here and we’re not going anywhere,” Sévigny said.