Bring on the red, white and rainbow-coloured flags. As Toronto's Pride Parade, the largest in North America, coincides with Canada Day this July 1, we're anticipating float-loads of fun throughout the festivities.

And it seems fitting that the events would fall together, as it gives us a chance to celebrate great Canadians who are part of the gay community -- people who have entertained, informed and inspired us through their nationality, their talents and their advocacy for LGBT rights throughout their careers.

Despite how far gay rights have come, there remain places in the world where people feel unsafe revealing their sexual orientation and identities. Let's celebrate living in a country where people can be exactly who they are without being persecuted.

SEE: Our favourite gay Canadians. Have someone to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below:

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• KD Lang

  Singer

• Ann-Marie MacDonald

  Author and playwright

• Rick Mercer

  Comedian, TV host

• George Smitherman

  <a href="http://georgesmitherman.com/" target="_hplink">Politician, former Toronto mayoral candidate. </a>

• Rufus Wainwright

  Singer

• Ashley MacIsaac

  Folk musician

• Elvira Kurt

  Comedian, TV host

• Tegan & Sara

  Musicians

• Trey Anthony

  TV show creator, playwright

• David Furnish

  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Furnish" target="_hplink">Filmmaker and writer. Married to singer Elton John</a>

• Steven Sabados and Chris Hyndman

  <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/" target="_hplink">Designers, style experts, TV hosts</a>

• Glenn Dixon

  <a href="http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=12&rid=16&sid=126&hid=1990" target="_hplink">Designer and TV host</a>

• Joe Zee

  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-Zee/141656775768" target="_hplink">Fashion stylist and editor</a>

• Jeremy Laing

  <a href="http://www.jeremylaing.com/index2.html" target="_hplink">Fashion designer</a>

• Brad Goreski

  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brad-Goreski/188133597897526" target="_hplink">Author, fashion expert</a>

• Mark Tewksbury

  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Tewksbury" target="_hplink">Former Olympic swimmer, gold-medallist, author</a>

• Rex Harrington

  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Harrington" target="_hplink">Former principal dancer, National Ballet Of Canada</a>

• Tommy Smythe

  <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/ontv/hostdetails.aspx?hostid=41790" target="_hplink">Designer, TV host</a>

• Carole Pope

  Musician

• Peaches

  Musician

• Scott Heggart

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/18/scott-heggart-gay-canadian-jock-youtube-videos_n_1357292.html#s791630&title=So_I_Came" target="_hplink">Athlete, activist, online gay rights advocate</a>

• Brian Orser

  <a href="http://www.brianorser.com/" target="_hplink">Figure skater, former Olympian and eight-time world champion</a>

• Sarah Vaillancourt

  Member of Canada's gold medal-winning women's hockey team. (Pictured left)