We, the undersigned, are calling on the Victoria Pride Society (VPS) to reconsider allowing the participation of uniformed police, military, and RCMP in the Pride parade, festival and events. We call on VPS to create policy that underscores this position so it is no longer something that the community needs to wonder. 

Pride began as a form of resistance—against police raids, systemic violence, and state-sanctioned discrimination. To now celebrate those very institutions within Pride without systemic reform or improvement, undermines the struggles that made these events possible in the first place.

🚫 Why Police, Military, and RCMP Should Not Be Celebrated at Pride

• Historical Harm: From the 1969 Stonewall Uprising to Canada’s 1981 bathhouse raids, Pride’s origins lie in resisting police brutality. These are not distant memories—they are a living history of state violence against queer and trans people.
• Ongoing Trauma: In “Victoria” and across Canada, Indigenous, Black, trans, unhoused/displaced, and marginalized community members continue to face over-policing, racial profiling, and systemic harm.
• Pride Is a Protest: Pride was never meant to celebrate state power. Honouring police and military institutions at these events erases the radical history and reinforces a narrative of compliance over liberation.

✅ What We Are Asking For

We understand that safety and emergency response are important aspects of organizing a large public event. We also recognize that a permitted event like the parade has a legal requirement for police presence. Our position is not that police, RCMP, or military presence must be eliminated altogether in every capacity—but rather that they should not be honored, centered, or celebrated in Pride spaces. Their presence should be mitigated to the best of VPS’s ability and communication across all social platforms should let the community know what kind and where to expect police encounters.

We recommend the following:

• No Uniforms in the Parade: Do not allow police, RCMP, or military personnel to march in uniform or be featured as celebratory figures.
• Private Participation Only: Officers and service members who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are welcome to attend as private citizens—out of uniform and outside official representation.
• Community-Based Safety Models: Prioritize non-police alternatives for event safety—such as trained peer support, de-escalation teams, and community stewards.
• Discreet Emergency Collaboration: Where absolutely necessary, work with law enforcement for critical emergency coordination only—behind the scenes, not as parade participants. As a permitted event, we understand that law enforcement is required, but they don’t need to be celebrated.

🧡 A Pride That Reflects All of Us

We want a Pride where everyone feels safe—especially those who have historically been excluded or harmed. Let’s build a future where our celebrations don’t come at the cost of our principles or our most vulnerable community members.

We urge the Victoria Pride Society to take leadership in this moment—not just by celebrating love and inclusion, but by practicing accountability and justice. VPS, we urge you to take this step toward writing policy that promises to keep police out of celebratory roles in the festival and parade.

Pride Is for Us All—But Especially for the Most Marginalized

If Pride is not safe and empowering for trans youth, Indigenous and Two-Spirit people, queer refugees, sex workers, disabled folks, and those living at the margins, then it is not fulfilling its purpose. 

✍️ Sign now to stand with 2SLGBTQIA+ community members who deserve a Pride that puts people over policing.