Picture of Marsha P. Johnson and others.

Pride is a time for us to come together to celebrate and honor the hard won fights over the past 50 years. It is a time for us to reflect on our heroes and those who inspire us from Marsha P. to Harvey Milk, from Bell Hooks to Bayard Rustin, from Jose Sarria to Brian Coyle. It is a time for us to have fun and recommit to the next 50 years of winning truly intersectional LGBTQ equity.

The very existence of the Pride parade and celebrations that take place at the end of June commemorate the Stonewall Riot of 1969. The Stonewall Riot was a protest led by trans women of color in response to the systematic targeting and raiding of gay bars in Greenwich Village by police. Minnesota shares this history of police brutalization against LGBTQ community members.

LGBTQ communities are often still unsafe around police because of histories of oppression and the current perpetuation of police brutality. This is particularly true for LGBTQ folks of color.

We understand the need for safety yet also see our community members who have trauma from the very institutions that are supposed to protect them. Our Anti-Violence team will be in the park and in our tent for de-escalation purposes, if you need to report any instances of violence or harassment, or if you just need to talk. You can also call our 24/7 Anti-Violence help-line at 800.800.0350. There will be a trained advocate in the Outfront tent for most of the festival and in the park if you would like to talk someone about an experience of violence or harassment in any form.

We understand the need for safety yet also see our community members who have trauma from the very institutions that are supposed to protect them. Our Anti-Violence team will be in the park and in our tent for de-escalation purposes, if you need to report any instances of violence or harassment, or if you just need to talk. You can also call our 24/7 Anti-Violence help-line at 800.800.0350. There will be a trained advocate in the Outfront tent for most of the festival and in the park if you would like to talk someone about an experience of violence or harassment in any form.

Over the past several months OutFront staff — specifically, Oluchi Omeoga the OutFront’s Policy and Organizing Coordinator and our Anti-Violence team — have been working with Minneapolis Police (MPD), Park Police and Twin Cities Pride (TC Pride) security to create lasting solutions with regard to safety, police and Twin Cities Pride. We have been joined in these conversations by our friends at Stonewall DFL, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar, Twin Cities Pride, and others.

“While we are proud of the changes in policing this year, we will continue to push for justice and accountability. We need systemic change in our State to shift away from militarized policing. Our communities can support that kind of shift by making changes at our events. Safety for communities that are targeted by police violence is our priority.”

Oluchi Omeoga, OutFront Policy and Organizing Coordinator

Oluchi Omeoga, “While we are proud of the changes in policing this year, we will continue to push for justice and accountability. We need systemic change in our State to shift away from militarized policing. Our communities can support that kind of shift by making changes at our events. Safety for communities that are targeted by police violence is our priority.”

Join us at Twin Cities Pride at our tent and sign up to get engaged in our work. If you want to take action for migrant justice, stay tuned for details on actions we are supporting next week.

PROGRESS REPORT

TC Pride

  • Private security trained in LGBTQ competency and de-escalation tactics: ACHIEVED

Park Police

  • Park Police will have limited presence in and around perimeter of park due to private security: ACHIEVED

  • Park Police will not amass near the Power to the People stage like previous years: ACHIEVED

  • Park Police in soft uniforms: NOT ACHIEVED (not all park police have soft uniforms)

  • LGBTQ competency and de-escalation training: ACHIEVED

MPD

  • Limit police participation in the parade  and have one police car mandated by law leading the parade without lights and sirens except where necessary: ACHIEVED

  • Soft uniforms be worn by police on duty where available: ACHIEVED

  • LGBTQ competency and de-escalation training: NOT ACHIEVED

We are committed to continuing to work with Twin Cities Pride, local law enforcement and other organizations to keep Pride safe, inclusive, and accessible to all by conducting further trainings on de-escalation and LGBTQ competency for police and security, holding police and community organizations accountable, and working to implement community liaisons within the parks next year.
 

Happy Pride,

OutFront Minnesota