Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) walks with his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (L) during the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal, Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (L) walks with his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (C) and his partner Dr. Matthew Barrett during the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal, Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett were cheered from the rafters as they marched in the Montreal Pride Parade on Sunday.

The carnival was in full swing out on the streets, the sun was shining, the music was pumping and tens of thousands of people lined the Pride route.

Varadkar and Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau had met earlier to discuss trade - but cut loose on the parade route, opening the top two buttons of their shirts and rolled up their sleeves to show a more relaxed vibe.

In a serious moment as he addressed the crowd, Varadkar said more needed to be done for diversity.

Expand Close Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) walks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (L) during the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal, Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) walks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (L) during the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal, Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

“We need to stand up to homophobic bullying in workplaces an schools, we need to make more advances in the area of sexual health; that is a key priority for me at home and internationally,” he declared.

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“Countries that are progressive, open and diverse, like Canada and Ireland have a responsibility to other people in other parts of the world where equality and equal rights are under threat and the clock is being turned backwards.”

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Varadkar and Trudeau pose with a bride and groom at the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal REUTERS Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) walks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (L) during the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal, Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi REUTERS Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joins in the Pride march through Montreal with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo: Reuters REUTERS Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (L) walks with his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (C) and his partner Dr. Matthew Barrett during the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal, Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi REUTERS Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins Collins Dublin, Gareth Chaney Leo Varadkar addresses an Enterprise Ireland event in Toronto Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (L) and his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Leo Varadkar participate in a welcoming ceremony at the Royal Highland Regiment Armoury in Montreal, Quebec Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi REUTERS Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau REUTERS Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomes Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Royal Highland Regiment Armoury in Montrea REUTERS Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participate in a welcoming ceremony at the Royal Highland Regiment Armoury in Montreal REUTERS Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) shakes hands with his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Leo Varadkar prior to a bilateral meeting in Montreal, Quebec Canada August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Varadkar and Trudeau pose with a bride and groom at the Montreal Pride parade in Montreal

“We need to use our voices to stand up to communities who face real threats and real dangers,” he said.

The first head of state to ever march in a Canadian Pride event, Varadkar walked the route with his partner Matt, waving and smiling at those roaring support along the way.

Asked if he was having fun, the Taoiseach smiled, replying yes. “The sun is shining,” he added – raising his hands.

Quebec native Patrick Pitre - who has family roots in Co Galway- said he was blown away that the "prime minister" of Ireland was marching in the parade in Montreal.

"It's fun," he said simply.

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