A Message About Pride & Police

Over the past 2 years now , Black Lives Matter has been front and centre with it's statement of Police oppression and brutality and it has rubbed a lot in the gay community the wrong way.

The movement stems from the videos we have all seen of body cams and cell phones documenting the harrowing experiences of POC's in The United States with the Police force.

The Canadian version of these horrific videos is a tampered down news report of carding in Toronto, Police Brutality in the Native communities and Indifference and disregard for Transgendered and POC gay females and males.

Progress to me means equality. BLM was born out of the idea of bringing attention to Lives that Matter - Black or POC specifically. In The United States - this an issue that must and should resonate with anyone that knows anything about U.S. Race Relations.

In Canada Progress from BLM Toronto , Montreal , Vancouver, Ottawa and BLM London should mean bringing attention to the plights this segment feels and bringing action to the cause.

For some of these cities their cause makes sense - for others - well... it may be time to retool the messaging and call to action. (more on that later)

Yes this does mean that Gay White Males and Females are largely left out of these incidents.

This is a good thing no?

This movement was about bringing attention to a large problem. Protests do that and it worked. The uproar almost seemed to be misinformed on the cause in the first place. This caused A LOT of well intentioned but none the less highly entitled individuals (and some noteworthy respectable leaders) saying things that had Harper Conservatives siding with this segment of the usual Left.

The Concerns or 'demands' as some in the media reported - were all meet with reason by everyone - but the biggest issue that seemed to be adopted Continent wide for BLM as a movement as been the request that the Police departments can not have a float or wear uniforms during the parade but are welcome to come as civilians.

This left ton's of people very angry and in the age of Social media - they let their collective voices be heard. It wasn't long until someone felt the reasoning to call BLM a terriost organization and others to jump on and liken them to ISIS or the KKK.

The remarks on Pride Toronto's social media accounts came out strong with people suggesting they stage a physical barrier to others suggesting they get physical at the first sign of a BLM Protestor. In Ottawa one man even suggested people run BLM Protestors down if seen - a scene eerily similar to that of the Alt-Right U.S. Attacker that drove through a crowd of protestors recently.

This type of open and free thinking about physical harm and willful ignorance harkens back to an age of basic thinking and often reveals our still primitive thinking beyond fear what we don't know or understand.

For the Police departments in question - they seem to be doing their part to be part of the solution and not part of the problem any longer. It appears that most of the Police forces were taken by surprise by the force of the demand and the issue's this segment of a minority population has with their officers.

This is the way it should be. With communities working with the police to find a better way forward. In most cases this should continue with dialogue, new board members , more actual members to each cities Pride committees and other action taken by those in BLM and in the respective city's Police Force.

Much like anything change comes from an outside idea being worked into the system.Each Pride and Police force has a system in place - one that does lead to a workable and satisfactory solution if enough people are able to make it a priority for their time.

The in creative differences, brainstorming, responsibilities, back and forth's and endless volunteer time people need to put up with months at a time is a lot to handle and it's possible that these issues of minority viewpoints on race relations with the Police communities have not been given the air time because there was a believe that relations with each cities respective police departments HAD been getting better.

This was True.. mostly for White gay males but the eventual trickle down allowed the basic acceptance of gay bashing in the most violent ways to be shunned..mostly.

There needs to be acceptance of responsibility and action on both sides of this. For people who are defiant against BLM's wishes it's best to break bread and have a dialogue with BLM representatives and supporters to find the common ground and workable plan moving forward.

BLM can not stop parades without seeking the support that year and following years (and if we are to be honest previous years as well) to be on the board in their respective cities.

Joining and Pride board and being involved in the creation and support of these very causes are what is needed for any solid action to take place.

Change comes with acceptance, understanding and action and at this moment. None of that seems to be occurring. In fact - in the wake of Pulse Nightclub, The KKK demonstration and the recent demonstrations that have taken place in London, Toronto and other Canadian cities by Neo Nazi individuals and groups - it appears we may be on track to be found in our own corners huddled by woefully ignorant like minded people.

As President Trump would say... Sad

#BLM #PrideToronto #Pride #Politics #RaceRelations #Transgender