Some Toronto police officers are heading south of the border to participate in New York City’s Pride events after members of the Toronto police service were banned from participating in Toronto’s Pride parade in uniform.
Const. Paul Regan is en route to New York and says he couldn’t be more excited.
“This is the most fantastic thing that we’ve done as police service in the last five years, that I can recall,” he said.
“It’s amazing that we are going to New York City to march in a Pride march with New York Police Department and our brothers and sisters from across North America.”
READ MORE: Toronto police invited to march in uniform in NYC pride parade
The Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) of New York extended the invitation, requesting Toronto police join uniformed members of the NYPD marching band and colour guard in the June 25 event.
The invitation comes after controversy over police participation in the Toronto event began at last year’s parade, when activist group Black Lives Matter halted the parade and refused to budge until a list of demands was signed — including the exclusion of uniformed officers from the parade.
READ MORE: Toronto police officers will not be allowed to wear uniforms at unofficial Pride event
Mike McCormack, president of Toronto Police Association, is also travelling to New York for the event.
“The sad part is, we couldn’t even do this in our own city, and we are supposed to be a world-class city.”
Non-uniformed officers are still allowed to participate in the Toronto march with community groups, the city or their own group.
— With files from Jessica Patton