Cops in the closet
ROBERT BURTON-BRADLEY
South Australian Police (SAPOL) have refused to allow officers to march in a gay pride parade while in uniform this weekend, labelling the LGBTI community and its supporters a “special interest group”.
A SAPOL spokesman told the Star Observer in a statement that the decision by newly appointed Police Commissioner Gary Burns not to let uniformed officers march in the Adelaide Pride Parade was based on being “impartial”.
“SAPOL remains apolitical in dealing with special interest groups to preserve impartiality,” the spokesman said.
“It should be noted that SAPOL does not participate in any march for any other special interest group.”
South Australian Communities and Social Inclusion Minister Ian Hunter said he was disappointed at the decision and said it was out of step with other state police forces.
“I write to the police commissioner every year and invite them to change their policy position and I draw their attention to the situation in New South Wales and Victoria, where police commissioners actually march and advise them it would a fantastic community building event,” he told the Star Observer.
The openly gay Hunter said he did not agree with the description of the LGBTI community and its supporters as a “special interest group”.
“Well that’s not how I would describe myself or my family, I’d say I might be a member of a minority in the community but deserving of [having] the same issues being considered as anyone else,” he said.
The position is in marked contrast to SAPOL’s support for other community events like ANZAC Day where officers have a visible presence.
“[If] SAPOL go out of their way to build community relationships with other parts of the community then they should also be open to building relationships with the gay and lesbian community,” Hunter said.
Adelaide Pride co-coordinator Eric Kuhlmann said he was disappointed at the decision.
“It’s not a good message for them to be sending out, in that it says that the police should stay in the club and not be seen to be supporting Pride March in public,” he told the Star Observer.
“We’re not a special interest group, we are a large part of the wider community and we are marching for pride and in support of equality of LGBTI people.”
The SAPOL spokesman said police were still able to participate, just not in a manner that identified them with their uniforms.
“SAPOL is committed to ensuring equality and fairness to the community it serves, recognising the diverse population representing many cultures, religions and groups,” the spokesman said.
“Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers were introduced to provide a partnership and support between SAPOL and all elements of the community and also within the organisation by promoting equity and diversity in the workplace.
SAPOL said that at present there were 44 employees currently working as gay and lesbian liaison officers.
A petition asking Burns to reverse his decision currently has more that 2000 signatures on AllOut.org.