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 鈥渟pecial interest group鈥�.
A SAPOL spokesman told the 17c起草社区 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 鈥渋mpartial鈥�.
鈥淪APOL remains apolitical in dealing with special interest groups to preserve impartiality,鈥� the spokesman said.
鈥淚t should be noted that SAPOL does not participate in any march for any other special interest group.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 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,鈥� he told the 17c起草社区.
The openly gay Hunter said he did not agree with the description of the LGBTI community and its supporters as a 鈥渟pecial interest group鈥�.
鈥淲ell that鈥檚 not how I would describe myself or my family, I鈥檇 say I might be a member of a minority in the community but deserving of [having] the same issues being considered as anyone else,鈥� he said.
The position is in marked contrast to SAPOL鈥檚 support for other community events like ANZAC Day where officers have a visible presence.
鈥淸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,鈥� Hunter said.
Adelaide Pride co-coordinator Eric Kuhlmann said he was disappointed at the decision.
鈥淚t鈥檚 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,鈥� he told the 17c起草社区.
鈥淲e鈥檙e 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.鈥�
The SAPOL spokesman said police were still able to participate, just not in a manner that identified them with their uniforms.
鈥淪APOL is committed to ensuring equality and fairness to the community it serves, recognising the diverse population representing many cultures, religions and groups,鈥� the spokesman said.
鈥淕ay 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.
asking Burns to reverse his decision currently has more that 2000 signatures on AllOut.org.
