Edmonton Pride parade organizers defend police presence amid backlash from advocates
The Edmonton PrideFest Association said police involvement is a reasonable precaution to protect attendees and ensure they return home safely after the parade.
Edmonton Pride parade organizers have defended their decision to include a police presence at this weekend's procession honoring the LGBTQ+ community, amid backlash from advocates. The Edmonton PrideFest Association announced plans for increased security and police involvement following attacks at similar events in Vancouver and Berlin. Multiple groups, including non-profit RaricaNow, have threatened to sever ties with the festival over the presence of police and other concerns.
Festival producer Trevor Watson maintains that police involvement is a necessary precaution to ensure attendees' safety and their ability to return home after the parade. However, RaricaNow founder Adebayo Chris Katiiti argues that police have a history of mistreating LGBTQ+ and racialized communities. "We cannot honor Pride while ignoring its history and the voices that made it possible," Katiiti stated in a social media video. "We cannot claim safety while welcoming the same systems that have harmed our communities."
In 2019, the Edmonton police apologized for officers' mistreatment of the LGBTQ+ community, citing the 1981 raid on the Pisces Health Spa, a former bathhouse frequented by gay men.
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