Toronto FC, Wolfpack embrace Pride week
Soccer, rugby teams to display rainbow colours
TORONTO — For the Toronto Wolfpack, it’s gameday Saturday and Pride parade Sunday.
The fledgling pro rugby league team, which hosts Hunslet RLFC on Saturday, is looking forward to taking part in Toronto’s annual parade.
“We’ll all march. We want to get involved in the community,” said coach Paul Rowley.
“We all are what we are and we don’t care what colour, creed, race or belief you have,” added the English native who oversees rugby’s first transatlantic team.
Like the Wolfpack, Toronto FC is flying its rainbow colours. On Friday, the Major League Soccer team hosts its first Pride Night as the New England Revolution come to visit.
“It’s so important in the world today, the ability for people from all walks of life, of different background, of different race, ethnicity, different upbringings, different religions, sexual orientation, whatever it is, to understand that we’re all the same,” said Toronto captain Michael Bradley.
“The ability to understand what other people are going through, the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes, the ability to love and respect other people no matter what the differences are — there’s nothing more important.
“All of us here at TFC are proud to play our part this weekend. I think it will be a great night.”
An MLSE spokesman said while the Leafs and Raptors have had a Pride presence in recent years, that will not be the case this weekend “due to availability.” The Blue Jays are on the road. Bradley showed his colours last June when he wore a rainbow captain’s armband in support of the victims of the Orlando shooting and the LGBT community.