OTTAWA — The federal government will hold its G20 summit in the heart of Toronto’s financial district over the last weekend of June, The Canadian Press has learned.

The decision will bring tens of thousands of visitors into the downtown core but it will also sideline baseball fans and the gay community as it kicks off a week of Pride activities.

An official announcement is not expected for a few weeks, but sources tell The Canadian Press the Metro Toronto Convention Centre next to the CN Tower has been selected over locations outside the downtown core.

Ottawa has already hosted a G8 summit and other international meetings in the building. Plus, it gives the federal government a chance to put the spotlight on its stable financial district at a time when G20 leaders are looking for good role models.

“The whole point is to showcase Canada as an attractive place to do business and the way we regulate our banking sector,” said Andrew MacDougall, a spokesman for the prime minister.

“We have a good story and we want it told well,” he said, without confirming the location.

The Gay Pride Parade, which usually draws over a million visitors from around the world, has already been pushed back a week.

Normally, the parade is held on the last weekend in June, after a week of festivities. The parade is meant to commemorate New York City’s Stonewall Riots of June 28, 1969.

Organizers have postponed everything by a week in anticipation of summit activities. Still, Gay Pride activities will start just before the summit, on June 25, and build up to a parade a week after the summit, on July 4.

source: www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j77Ewlxiyt6d0fzYAcDHt7HrF9vA

OTTAWA — The federal government will hold its G20 summit in the heart of Toronto’s financial district over the last weekend of June, The Canadian Press has learned. The decision will bring tens of thousands of visitors into the downtown core but it will also sideline baseball fans and the gay community as it kicks [...]

Moscow’s mayor, Yuri M. Luzhkov, an outspoken opponent of gay rights groups, vowed Monday to again prevent a gay parade in the city. Mr. Luzhkov referred to gay parades as “satanic,” the Interfax news agency reported. Members of gay groups have tried to march in Moscow in recent years, only to be detained or dispersed. “We haven’t permitted such a parade and we won’t permit it in the future,” said Mr. Luzhkov, above. “It’s high time that we stop propagating nonsense discussions about human rights, and bring to bear on them the full force and justice of the law.” Gay rights groups said they would press ahead with plans for a parade in May.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Moscow’s mayor, Yuri M. Luzhkov, an outspoken opponent of gay rights groups, vowed Monday to again prevent a gay parade in the city. Mr. Luzhkov referred to gay parades as “satanic,” the Interfax news agency reported. Members of gay groups have tried to march in Moscow in recent years, only to be detained or dispersed. [...]

One million people from marching down Avenida Atlântica in Copacabana yesterday for Rio’s 14th Annual Gay Pride Parade. Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes guaranteed that the parade will receive more incentive from the government next year, when it celebrates its 15th anniversary. According to newspaper O Dia, the investment for 2010 may be of up to R$ 800,000, which is a significant number when you consider that the city spent a mere R$ 100,000 in the event this year. Just so you know, it is estimated that the parade brought in over R$ 45 million in revenue to the city last year.

One million people from marching down Avenida Atlântica in Copacabana yesterday for Rio’s 14th Annual Gay Pride Parade. Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes guaranteed that the parade will receive more incentive from the government next year, when it celebrates its 15th anniversary. According to newspaper O Dia, the investment for 2010 may be of up to [...]