"I am both disheartened and disappointed by the decision from The Center on Colfax to exclude the APD from participating in this year’s Pride Fest. She says participating in the parade helped showcase APD's support for their LGBTQ+ employees, spouses, partners, families, allies and the community. The Aurora Police Department (APD) started marching in the parade in 2013, and the community response was "overwhelmingly positive," according to Chief Vanessa Wilson. We respect The Center’s decision to have law enforcement sit out this Pride Fest and look forward to building upon our relationships with The Center and LGBTQ community moving forward.” “The Denver Police Department considers the LGBTQ community valued partners in safety. The Center hired private security for the 5K, the official said.Ī spokesperson for the Denver Police Department said in a statement Wednesday that it respects The Center's decision. This year’s PrideFest will take place June 26-27 and include an in-person and virtual 5K race, a virtual parade presented by Denver7, a virtual marketplace and in-person “Pride hubs” across the city where people will be able to celebrate together.Īn official with The Center told Denver7 on Wednesday that organizers will follow city permit guidelines, meaning DPD will provide security with the exception of one hub at The Center's location itself. In 2017 DPD launched the Proud in Denver campaign, partnering with businesses to provide safe places for the LGBTQ community.ĭenver police officers have also historically marched in previous parades.Īfter moving to a virtual celebration in 2020 due to the pandemic, Denver PrideFest announced last month that 2021 would be a hybrid event with both virtual and in-person activities. The Denver Police Department (DPD) has a history of supporting the LGBTQ community. We hope to facilitate future conversations about how we can reform policing in our community that will involve all members of our community and support new and just ways of keeping our communities safe.” We have decided to not allow police participation in the 2021 virtual pride parade or to allow law enforcement agencies to participate as exhibitors. While we value our relationships with law enforcement and want to continue to build a safer community for all Coloradans, we feel we must take a stand. However we cannot in good conscience, as an organization that speaks up for justice, look the other way when it comes to police violence aimed at the Black community-a history of violence that goes back even further in American history. For all these decades, The Center has worked to address these issues and improve the relationship between the LGBTQ community and the police and we have made great strides. There are numerous examples of police violence going back beyond the famous Stonewall Riots of 1969. The entire history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement is rooted in a history of opposing police harassment and violence aimed at our community. “The Center was founded 45 years ago in response to police violence and harassment of the LGBTQ community.