No police uniforms allowed in Victoria Pride Parade

Police will walk in the Victoria Pride Parade this weekend, but they will be doing it in civilian clothes.

The annual event, now in it's 26th year, takes place Sunday in downtown Victoria and, after consultations between the Victoria Pride Society (VPS) and the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC), officers will respect the request of the society to not walk in uniform.

The VPS decision to only allow non-uniformed police officers to participate in the parade has been part of an ongoing conversation with the VPS and the GVPDAC for several weeks. As part of this conversation, the GVPDAC heard concerns from members of marginalized communities about their discomfort with a police presence.

"What we have learned through this process is there are still people who feel marginalized, who are marginalized, and this event is all about inclusiveness," Oak Bay Police Chief Const. Andy Brinton told Gregor Craigie the host of CBC's On The Island.

No blues about no blues

"It's their event. We're invited," said Brinton. "This request has been made of us and we certainly have no issues with it."

Brinton expects a good turnout of officers at Sunday's festivities and said the VPS and the GVPDAC have worked together to design a T-shirt for police to wear in lieu of uniforms.

In a statement, the Victoria Police Department said it's happy not to walk in uniform and hopes doing so is a step toward fostering trust and improving communication between officers and the LGBT community.

Victoria police Chief Del Manak tweeted that VicPD officers will be wearing pride police patches all week to show their "love and support for the LGBT community."

In a statement, the VPS said the uniform ban "is not a statement on officers wishing to participate but rather an effort to make Victoria Pride more inclusive, accessible and safe."

The society said it consulted with over 500 LGBT community members and the decision "is a recognition that there is continuing work to be done to overcome intergenerational trauma and marginalization that still exists".

"Indigenous, queer, trans, non-binary, people of colour communities are over-policed in society," said Hope Warren, community engagement coordinator for the VPS.

Warren told Megan Thomas, guest host of All Points West, that police uniforms create a power dynamic that bothers some who wish to attend the parade. 

"We're not asking them not to come. We're saying we recognize that in parts of our country there are parts of our community [where] this is like an absolute deal-breaker for them. We need to listen to them."

The Victoria Pride Parade starts Sunday, July 7 at 11 a.m. at the corner of Pandora Street and Government Street.