Community Update: Pride Festival Safety Planning

The safety of our community remains Queer Yukon Society's highest priority.

In light of recent events targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities internationally, as well as concerning bigoted responses to recent local announcements supporting our community, QYS has taken additional steps to help ensure a safe and welcoming Pride Festival this year.

At QYS's request, we worked with the local RCMP to develop a formal safety plan for the Pride Parade and Pride Picnic. Throughout the planning process, the RCMP looked to QYS for direction on how they could best support the event in a way that respected our community's values and concerns. The resulting plan was shaped by QYS, with the RCMP working collaboratively to implement our requested approach.

We recognize that the presence of police can be difficult for some members of our community due to historical and lived experiences. We respect those feelings and understand that some individuals may choose not to participate because of them.

These decisions were made by the volunteer Board of Directors after carefully considering community feedback, the current environment, our legal responsibilities as event organizers, and our duty of care to everyone attending Pride. While no approach will meet everyone's needs, we believe this plan best balances community concerns with our responsibility to provide a safe public event.

For the Pride Parade, one of QYS's priorities was ensuring that policing remained as unobtrusive as possible. In response, the RCMP agreed to support the parade primarily using unmarked vehicles while carrying out their public safety responsibilities.

At the Pride Picnic, there will be a visible presence of uniformed RCMP officers conducting regular patrols. QYS requested this approach because a visible police presence can both deter individuals considering unlawful acts targeting our community and allow for a faster response should a medical emergency or other public safety incident occur.

We also welcome queer RCMP members and allies who wish to participate in the Pride Parade as community members. We respectfully ask that participants refrain from wearing formal uniforms.

While private security would have provided another option, QYS is unfortunately not in a financial position to hire private security personnel this year.

Pride has always been about creating spaces where our community can gather safely, authentically, and with joy. Every decision made in planning this year's festival has been guided by that commitment.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to celebrating Pride together.

The Board of Directors