By Police1 Staff
TORONTO — Toronto’s police chief told officers they are free to attend a Pride event geared toward first responders as long as they’re not in uniform.
Officers were told Monday if they plan on attending the First Responders Unity Festival this weekend, they must do it on “their own time and without their uniform,” CTV News reported.
Festival organizer Bryn Hendricks said the festival aims to include LGBTQ police, firefighters, paramedics, correctional services, TTC workers and military personnel. It was created as an alternative to the Pride Toronto festival, which voted in January to remove armed, uniformed officers and police floats from marching in the parade. Pride Toronto’s Executive Director Olivia Nuamah told CTV that officers are free to take part in the official Pride parade, but without their weapons, uniforms or patrol cars.
Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack said he’s “not surprised the chief said no to officers partaking in a private event in uniform,” but is excited about an invitation from the Gay Officers Action League welcoming uniformed officers walk in New York Pride.
“The Toronto Police Association will be marching in uniform at New York City Pride where we are being welcomed in the spirit of full inclusion,” McCormack said. “We have received an enormous outpouring of support from our fellow first responders and we wish our colleagues well as they celebrate Pride.”
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