Auckland Pride board could be rolled over ban on police uniforms in parade

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

The parade became mired in controversy when police were banned from marching in uniform. (Video first published in Jan 2019)

A special general meeting will be held to decide the future of Auckland's Pride board after four Pride members expressed a 'lack of confidence' over the police uniform ban.

Pride board member Zakk d'Larté said all work on the 2019 Auckland Pride Parade had been put on hold until after the meeting took place.

'Four members called for the [meeting] and we're expecting it to be held in early December,' d'Larté said.

Many Pride members were expecting the special general meeting would result in the board being rolled after a no confidence vote, d'Larté said.

Auckland Pride's festival board has banned police from marching in uniform at next year's parade.

* Defence Force won't take part in Pride**

*** Rainbow New Zealand pulls funding for Parade

* Parade's hui over uniform ban 'a circus'

* All LGBTQI+ people deserve to be heard**

The meeting comes in the wake of a decision by the board to ban police in uniform from marching in the annual parade.

Auckland woman Emilie Rākete is one of the Auckland Pride members who supports the ban of police uniforms in the parade.

Members of the police were still welcome to march in the parade as long as they wore other clothes.

Inspector Tracy Phillips, the self-appointed coordinator of the New Zealand Police's diversity liaison officer (DLO) service, said police had taken the message as a sign they were not welcome.

'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.'

The decision to ban the uniform had been 'difficult and complex' and it had been based on extensive community consultation, the Pride board said in a statement.

'We heard clearly during this consultation that for groups within our community the Police uniform does not make them feel safe.

'During that time we also heard numerous stories of transphobia, racism, misogyny and homophobia directed at members. The Board has a responsibility to listen to all of our community, and to pay attention to marginalised voices who have distanced themselves from Pride due to police involvement.'

The Pride board said it had tried to work with police to find a compromise. There had been multiple meetings and on-going dialogue, the statement said.

A hui to discuss the ban was held on Sunday, where a physical scuffle broke out.

About 250 people turned up at the Grey Lynn Community Centre.

'The board [was] disappointed with the behaviour of some attendees, which included racist comments and aggressive actions, leaving some people feeling unsettled and unsafe.

'The Board recognises that the decision has upset and disappointed some people, but request that conversations going forward are conducted with respect and civility.'

The announcement of the special general meeting comes after the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust pulled its funding for the parade on Tuesday.

The New Zealand Defence Force has also said it will not walk in next year's parade due to the uniform ban.

A petition was started on change.org asking the public to boycott the Parade because of the uniform ban. So far, more than 1600 people have signed.

The petition said the uniform ban did not represent the views of the wider rainbow community.

'Let that small group know that we will no longer be bullied,' the petition reads.