Life

Pride in Pictures 2012: Police & Pride

Pride in Pictures 2012: Police & Pride
Two Niagara region police officers in Toronto's 2012 parade. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The 1969 Stonewall riots erupted as a protest against police harassment.

And through the years, depending up on the location, there remains a wary-yet-improving relationship between police and the LGBTQ community.

In late-1970s San Francisco, with Harvey Milk on the board of supervisors and George Moscone as mayor, city government challenged police to break the pattern of harassment and abuse of the LGBTQ community. But, after their assassinations, the progress regressed. On trial for their deaths, former supervisor Dan White, also a former police officer, was convicted on voluntary manslaughter and not first-degree murder. The city exploded in the White Night Riots. It took years to build a tolerant police force.

London Police Constable Sam Philpot proposes marriage to PC Martin Coughlan at London Pride 2016. (He said yes.) Katie Chan / Wikimedia

Other American cities eventually followed suit, and it’s not unusual now for police officers and First Responders to be out and proud. We’ve even been charmed with a police-officer marriage proposal at 2016 London Pride. (OK, tears came to our eyes.)

But the LGBTQ relationship with police in Toronto remains a rocky one.

In 1981, the Operation Soap bathhouse raids led to the arrests of more than 300 men. More recently, after the city was rocked by serial murders of gay men, residents criticized the police investigation as slow, despite signs something bad was happening. Thus this year, Toronto Pride officials asked police not to march in their gear in the 2018 parade.

Toronto’s 1981 demonstration against police raids in bathhouses.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Evangelical Christians are now backing an actual pimp in a Nevada election

Previous article

Starbucks announces huge expansion of their health care coverage for trans employees

Next article