Dozens of Toronto police officers are ready to head to New York City to participate in Saturday’s Pride parade dressed in uniform – something they have been barred from doing in their own city on Sunday.
Const. Paul Regan is joining around 40 officers heading to the Big Apple to march proudly in their uniforms, he told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.
“As an officer with the Toronto Police Service I am absolutely amazed that they have extended the offer to us and I look forward to participating in the event,” he said.
After finding out he couldn’t march in uniform in Toronto for the first time in his eight years of service, Regan decided it was necessary to travel south of the border to show his support for the LGBTQ community.
“I think it’s important that we show our support and I think it’s important that we let people know that we are a part of the community even though we have a uniform on,” he said.
Along with Regan, more than 100 police officers from across the country, including Halifax and Ottawa are also making the journey to New York to participate in one of North America’s largest Pride parades.
Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash told CTV News Toronto that although this is the first year an invitation has been extended to officers there is a long history of different police services including each other in their events.
Officers are allowed to wear their uniforms at this event as per Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders announcement, Pugash added.
He said the decision for them to be allowed to wear their uniforms there comes because it is a long standing event that has been taking place over the past 35 years.
No uniforms for cops marching in Toronto
The officers’ decision to attend Saturday’s March in New York City in uniform comes after Pride Toronto voted to remove armed, uniformed officers and police floats from marching in all future parades during a meeting in January.
“I have to say I am disappointed that we cannot participate in this year’s Pride March here in Toronto but on the other hand I think the opportunity to participate in an event in New York City and being offered the invitation to come and realizing the magnitude of the event and how important it is, I think it is a wonderful opportunity for our service to participate,” Regan said.
As an alternative to Toronto’s Pride Parade on Sunday, emergency responders are hosting the First Responders Unity Festival. The private event is aimed to include LGBTQ police, firefighters, paramedics, TTC workers, military personnel and correctional services following a year that sparked a lot of controversy between these groups and Toronto Pride.
Despite focusing on these groups, Saunders announced that officers cannot wear their uniforms while in attendance of this festival as well.
“This other event is a distraction,” Pugash said. “It’s a diversion. Really taking the big picture view, we want to resolve the Pride issue, which is the largest event in this city on an annual basis and has a very long and important history in this city.”
Regan explained he is excited to attend the event in New York City, but he hopes marching in another city won’t always be the only option.
“I hope next year that Toronto police will be invited to participate in the Pride Parade and if we are invited I look forward to joining the parade again,” he said.
