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This is rather damaging for the community. Fixing relationships is always better if some reaching out can occur
Also, good read
More @ https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...ects-to-black-lives-matters-call-for-ban.html
Also, good read
It was a day of extreme emotions for Const. Chuck Krangle, a Toronto police officer and a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Despite working in the city for eight years, Krangle, who is openly gay, had never been to Torontos Pride parade. But this year brought his chance to attend when he was assigned to work Sundays parade.
Krangle was blown away by the spectacle, by the fun, and by the number of fellow officers taking part.
I was like woah, what a coming together, Krangle, 30, said in an interview. I had no idea that there were that many cops that march in this, from all different agencies, he said, adding that one of the highlights was speaking with Toronto police chief and parade-goer Mark Saunders.
But by the time Krangle, who is a community response officer, finished his shift, there had been a change in tone: following a mid-parade protest by members of Black Lives Matter Toronto, Pride organizers seemed to agree to make a number of changes to improve the event including banning police floats and booths. (Pride executive director Mathieu Chantelois said Monday that his signing of the demands was not binding on Pride.)
This year, 2016, marked a first for me. My first PRIDE parade. I would be working, nonetheless it would be my first one in any capacity. WOW what an event. What a spectacle, a joining of everyone.
The 2016 pride events really opened my eyes to something. The support that I have from my peers and supervisors has been unwavering. When I saw all those floats and officers marching (100's), I realized that my employer fully supports this part of me, and so many others like me. As I stood post at Yonge and College, ensuring a safe atmosphere, Chief Mark Saunders came up to me. I had the opportunity to salute him, and I knew that I had a leader who was invested in this celebration of PRIDE.
I do not speak for the police, and I do not speak for the LGBTQ community. I speak as an individual, one who saw his first PRIDE, only to be excluded from the next, Krangle wrote in his letter. Exclusion does not promote inclusion.
More @ https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...ects-to-black-lives-matters-call-for-ban.html