Kwantlen professor takes heat for Pride Parade tweet

A recent tweet sent out by a Kwantlen University professor saying the Vancouver Pride Parade is "vulgar" and "should be banned" is drawing a backlash online.

Shinder Purewal, a former federal Liberal Party candidate, sent out this tweet on Thursday morning: "Vancouver's so-called 'Pride Parade' should be banned. It is vulgar...to say the least!"

Purewal confirmed to CBC News he sent the message, but said it has nothing to do with homophobia.

"This is not aimed at people of same-sex orientation. It's not homophobic," he said. "It's simply if they want to have a pride parade it should be a cultured phenomenon. It should not be sexuality on display. It should not be vulgar."

Purewal stressed that he is a defender of same-sex marriage and is opposed to any sort of discrimination, but said he would not want his children to see half-naked people walking down the street.

"A lot of people in our society wouldn't want to see that display downtown."

Vancouver Pride organizer Kevin Coolen said Purewal has the right to express his point of view.

"Once you start saying, 'Well this part of it is bad,' it allows people to think, 'Well then the other part is bad' and it's just going to lead to more homophobic attitudes," Coolen said.

Immediately after the tweet was sent out, others responded with negative comments calling Purewal homophobic.

Robb Stevenson tweeted: "Comments like those by Shinder Purewal (ex-judge/prof) show the need, & how far we have yet to go, to fight ignorance & homophobia in #bced."

VancityDoug wrote: "With all the things that are wrong in the world, you criticize an event that brings people together in celebration."

Kwantlen University also sent a tweet saying Purewal's point of view does not represent the institution.

Purewal finished third in the Surrey-North riding in the last federal election.