Forget sneakers - these LGBT refugees are learning to rollerblade for Toronto Pride

Wendell Knowles spent a lifetime in hiding in the Bahamas.

But he learned this week that he's been accepted as a refugee in Canada — and he plans to celebrate by rollerblading down Yonge Street on Sunday, joined by other LGBT refugees.

The Bahamian man tentatively rolled along the pavement earlier this week, testing out the skates he'll use to propel himself along the parade route, something he said he considers a sort of coming out moment in the country he'll now call home.

"It will be the proudest moment of my life."

'I hid'

The openly gay man arrived in Canada three weeks ago, fleeing his homeland where the LGBT community often finds itself the target of violence and harassment. He said he escaped much of that only "because I hid."

Among those joining him are expected to be refugees from Syria, as Canada prioritized applicants from that country who identified as LGBT. That community faced a double threat in its homeland — from both the rise of ISIS and the existing prejudice in the region, according to the UN Security Council. More than 30 people had been publicly executed by ISIS for alleged same-sex relationships, a Security Council committee heard in August.

Event organizer Louise Gauvreau hoped the newcomers could bond over both their shared experiences and by learning a Canadian sport, albeit one more traditionally carried out with blades on a rink or pond.

"Unfortunately, a lot of LGBT immigrants feel the stigma that their culture here has towards LGBT members," she said. "So I thought it would be a good opportunity to have them come together, meet people, make connections and also do something fun."