Some 2SLGBTQ+ organizations have decided to sever connections with the Edmonton Pride Festival due to concerns regarding an increased police presence and uncertainties about the consideration of an application from a police-affiliated group to participate in the parade.
The festival organizers recently announced via a social media post that they are enhancing their safety plan, which includes a heightened police presence during the upcoming Edmonton Pride Parade and Trans March. In response to this, various groups such as Pride Corner on Whyte, pflag Edmonton, and the Edmonton Lesbian Event Network have declared their withdrawal from the festival.
Pride Corner on Whyte, in a statement shared on social media, mentioned that their choice to disassociate was influenced by unaddressed appeals from Black and Indigenous Trans and Queer community members. They also highlighted historical incidents like the police raid on an Edmonton bathhouse, concerns about racial profiling, encampment clearances, and police reactions to demonstrations as reasons for their apprehension.
During a press briefing, Edmonton Pride Festival executive producer Trevor Watson defended the decision to increase police presence, citing recent attacks at Pride events in Berlin and Vancouver to emphasize the importance of ensuring guest safety. Watson emphasized that the police presence is primarily for traffic monitoring and ensuring the secure movement of attendees.
Adebayo Katiiti, the founder of RaricaNow, a non-profit supporting 2SLGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers, noted that the disagreement over police presence at Pride events has been ongoing, with this year’s tension heightened by concerns about a police-affiliated group’s involvement in the parade application process. Katiiti expressed disappointment in the organizers’ engagement with law enforcement despite community objections.
The issue of police participation in Pride events has been contentious within the 2SLGBTQ+ community, with a notable protest in 2018 leading to the exclusion of law enforcement agencies like the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and RCMP from future parades. Katiiti urged the festival to explore alternative security measures rather than relying on a police presence, asserting that it contradicts community values.
Watson confirmed that a police-affiliated organization would not be marching in the parade following their application. He assured ongoing communication with the organizations that withdrew from the parade to maintain a cooperative relationship. EPS stated that their major events team collaborated with festival organizers on traffic management and emergency planning, acknowledging the unfortunate global incidents necessitating such measures.
The Pride festival organizers clarified that there will be no police presence at Indigenous Pride events during the weekend, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all participants.