Why London police are welcomed at Pride despite troubled past

Policing and Pride remains a hot-button issue in many communities, but not in London, say Pride Festival organizers.

"I'm really proud of the relationship we've had with police well before any of this ever started," said Andrew Rosser, Pride London president, referencing an incident in Toronto a year ago.

Last year, Black Lives Matter activists demanded Pride Toronto ban police floats from its parade. Shortly after, Toronto police officers were banned from participating in the parade while its members were in uniform.

In London, the relationship between police and Pride has improved over the years. 

In fact, former police Chief Brad Duncan was the first active chief to walk in the city's parade in 2011. He was later named grand marshal in 2015 to honour his efforts.

Theresa Allott, a diversity officer with London Police, said police have worked hard to strengthen its relationship with the LGBTQ community.

"I'm so proud of where we've come," she said. "We're going to make them feel like we are there to protect them. We are not there to hurt them or to make them feel bad or to belittle anything that has happened."

Past troubles

Relations between London police and the LGBTQ community haven't always been so congenial.

In 1993, police led an investigation into a child-exploitation case after 200 videotapes found in a north London river revealed sexual acts involving young boys and adult men.

Shortly after, OPP, Toronto Police and London Police combined efforts to investigate what became known as Project Guardian. About 60 men were charged with various sex crimes involving youth.

Several activists within the LGBTQ community accused London's police chief at the time of targeting homosexuals.

"The police went after everybody," said Suzanne Couture, Pride London's grand marshal for 2017, who was asked by police to identify potential suspects.

"It turned into a witch hunt that had nothing to do with the video tapes found in the water … they were just attacking people," she said. "It was a nasty time in our community and everybody was looking at everybody else."

That incident still stings today.

"It was a very dark time and very emotional time for a lot of people," said Martin Withenshaw, Pride London's treasurer.

Withenshaw said it's taken years of educating police services over LGBTQ concerns to reach an understanding.

"Our [London] police service is very well in the know," he said.