Agreement reached, VPD to walk in Pride Parade

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Vancouver Pride Society and Vancouver Police have come to terms on an agreement that will see members of the force march in this year’s parade.

Previously, the BC chapter of Black Lives Matter had asked the VPD to voluntarily withdraw from the parade, something officers say they’ve taken part in since 2002. They were asked not to participate as a “show of solidarity and understanding” because the group claimed the presence of uniformed officers appeared to make minority groups feel unsafe.

“Supporting Vancouver’s LGBTQ2S+ community goes beyond just the parade. We will continue to enhance our existing outreach, education, and awareness efforts year-round to help the community thrive and feel safe,” says VPD Staff Sergeant Randy Fincham.

The force says the majority of members will walk in t-shirts, while 20 per cent of the contingent will walk in uniform. “There will be no marked police vehicles in the 2017 Pride Parade. The VPD will participate in VPS-facilitated listening circles, both before the parade and year-round, where community members can share their stories with police in an accessible and supportive environment.”

In a statement on Facebook, the Vancouver Pride Society says the deal was reached after months of negotiations.

“Over the past 10 months, we engaged in intentional conversations with over 300 community members and organizations – including diverse members of the LGBTQ2+ community organizations, the VPD, RCMP, and other law enforcement agencies – and through this process, have gathered additional information and understanding of the barriers to participating in Pride events that many members of our community still face. We also asked questions about how we can make these events even more inclusive.”

The Pride Parade is August 6th.

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