A gay Syrian refugee says he personally thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when they marched alongside each other in Toronto鈥檚 Pride parade on Sunday.
Bassel Mcleash told 麻豆影视 Channel that he told the prime minister 鈥渂ecause of you I鈥檓 here, because of you I鈥檓 safe and able to do everything.鈥�
Mcleash, who waved with a rainbow-tinged Canada flag during the parade, said Trudeau responded to his thanks by saying that 鈥渋t was not me who brought you here; Canada asked me to do it.鈥�
Mcleash arrived in late May, three years after leaving Damascus for Egypt. He received assistance from Toronto鈥檚 Rainbow Railroad charity, which specializes in helping LGBT people escape persecution.
Homosexuality can lead to imprisonment in Syria. Seventy-five countries outlaw same-sex acts, according to the Geneva-based International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.
