One-hundred-and-fifteen gay and lesbian
couples from around the globe got hitched Thursday as part of
Toronto's WorldPride Week.
Australian couple Richard Laslett and
Collin Gunther, together 37 years, told AFP that they decided to get
married in the hopes that Australia will someday recognize their
union.
“We'll call ourselves husband and
husband, even though our marriage won't be recognized when we go
home,” Laslett
said.
The couples exchanged vows in the
garden of a midtown Neo-Gothic castle, Casa Loma.
Interim Mayor Norm Kelly said the
couples had gathered to “celebrate the power of love.”
Hoping to break a world record,
organizers had booked 200 couples, but many were unable to attend.
Toronto WorldPride is one of the
world's largest and most successful Gay Pride events. It culminates
Sunday with a thunderous parade down Yonge Street, the heart of
Toronto's LGBT community.