All you need to know about a ban on police marching in uniform during Pride Parade

Monday, 19 November 2018

Police introduced the rainbow car to be used throughout the Auckland and Wellington Pride festivals earlier this year.

Police officers have been banned from marching in their uniforms during the Auckland Pride Parade next year.

The Pride board said it had made the decision because some members of the rainbow community felt unsafe participating in the parade with police presence.

The decision caused outrage within the community and large groups threatened to boycott the parade.

A meeting on Sunday night to discuss the issue was described as a 'circus'.

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Police on horseback at the 2018 Auckland Pride Parade.

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When is Auckland Pride Parade?

Auckland Pride Parade is due to take place on February 16, 2019.

What is Auckland Pride Parade?

The parade is to celebrate New Zealand's rainbow communities including people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, takatāpui, whakawāhine, tangata ira tāne, fa'afafine, fakaleiti, akava'ine, māhū, vaka sa lewa lewa, rae rae, fiafifine, fakafifine, palopa, kathoey, hijra, baklâ, genderfluid, genderqueer, pansexual, asexual, queer and questioning.

Why have police been banned from wearing uniforms?

An Auckland Pride media release said its board advised New Zealand Police the week of November 5 that officers would not be able to march in the parade in uniform.

The board's decision came after its annual meetings which included members coming forward to provide feedback on the presence of police in the parade, the statement said.

'The visibility of the police uniform, in particular, had made them feel less safe about participating in the Auckland Pride Parade,' the release said.

'Issues and concerns relating to New Zealand Police were raised again and again throughout a series of four Auckland Pride community hui that were held across Tāmaki Makarau during August.

'Complaints about police consistently outnumbered feedback about any other institution or organisation.'

How did police react to the uniform ban?

Police Inspector Tracy Phillips, co-ordinator of the diversity liaison service, earlier said the uniform ban was 'really, really sad'.

Phillips said police had taken the uniform ban as a message that officers were not welcome at the parade.

She made the call that if police were unable to wear uniforms, they would no longer participate.

'Police fought really hard to be included in Pride, and to march in uniform. We're not prepared to go backwards and march in T-shirts, like we had to previously.'

How has the public reacted to the ban?

A Stuff poll showed that 86 per cent of voters didn't think police should be banned from marching in uniform.

Gay icon and parade veteran Mika described the uniform ban as 'fascist' and 'elitist'.

'These things are about inclusion, and we've got our community within the police force who want to represent us,' Mika said.

'We are talking about the inclusion of a community, dressed in their own drag, supporting the kaupapa (subject). I don't understand the Pride Board's decision. It's fascist and elitist.'

Manurewa MP Louisa Wall told Stuff she had gone to the meeting on Sunday as a member of the community, because she had 'wanted to understand how we got to this place'.

Wall said she understood the board had made its decision to protect transgender members of the community, some of whom felt intimidated by police.

'We have all had different experiences as part of the community but the reality is that our trans are the most excluded,' Wall said.

However, her position on the issue was that both sides could be included.

'You don't have to exclude one group to include another. If we are wanting to include trans, then let them lead the parade.'