Police have been told they are no longer welcome to march in uniform at this weekend’s Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne because other gay and lesbian attendees said it made them ‘feel unsafe’.
The Victorian Pride Lobby penned an open letter calling on organisers of the two-week LGBTIQA+ arts festival to prevent law enforcement officers from taking part as an organised part of the march.
The activist group said individual officers are welcome to take part as individuals on Sunday but should leave their uniform at home.
Victorian police officers have officially taken part in the Midsumma Pride March for the past two decades and say banning them ‘doesn’t feel like inclusivity’.
Police in uniform are not welcome at this weekend’s Midsumma Pride March (pictured) because other gay and lesbian attendees ‘feel unsafe’
Organizers justified the decision based on a survey of 1500 LGBTIQA+ community members about attitudes towards police.
The group claims the results overwhelmingly supported that participants are against uniformed police marching in at the event.
‘Pride March should be a safe space for all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, but sadly, due to a long history police violence, harassment and discrimination, this isn’t the case,’ the letter said.
‘Particularly for the most marginalised in our community, who are disproportionately targeted.’
Victorian Pride Lobby co-convenor Nevena Spirovska said it’s time Midsumma listened to the community’s concerns.
‘The LGBTIQA+ community has a fraught history with the police… and that’s why the Victorian Pride Lobby does not support police officers and corrections officers marching at Pride in uniform,’ she said.
‘It is important to note that no individual, no matter their occupation or background, is being excluded from participating in Pride March and that people have the opportunity to join other community floats that are involved.’
The Victorian Pride Lobby penned an open letter calling on organisers of the two-week LGBTIQA+ arts festival to prevent law enforcement officers from taking part. Pictured: Midsumma Pride March
Last year a survey of 1500 community members was conducted by the Victorian Pride Lobby, asking about attitudes towards police
But Neil Paterson, the Assistant Commissioner of the Victorian Police and who is also gay, said the lobby’s viewpoint does not match his experience marching at the rally.
‘As a gay man I’m very, very well connected in the broader LGBTI community,’ he told told 3AW radio.
‘I’m very aware of their opinions and overwhelmingly the vast majority of the LGBTI community absolutely love having police there.’
Mr Paterson said the lobby’s stance goes against everything the parade stands for and that he ‘absolutely’ plans to march on the weekend.
‘One of the hallmarks of pride is inclusivity — and it doesn’t feel inclusive,’ he said.
In December last year, a similar bid was launched to ban police and prison officer floats from the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney.
Organisers at the annual general meeting held a vote on the issue but it was voted down with motion only gaining 44 per cent of the vote.
