Edmonton Pride groups boycott festival over increased police presence

Several 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy groups are withdrawing from the upcoming Edmonton Pride Festival and parade due to plans for an increased Edmonton Police Service presence. Groups including Pride Corner and RaricaNow have announced their boycotts, citing historical tensions and the belief that a heavy police deployment is inappropriate for the community.

Festival executive director Trevor Watson defended the decision to increase security, stating that the measure is necessary to ensure public safety following violent incidents at other Pride events, such as an attack on the Berlin Pride festival. Watson emphasized that while police will provide security and manage logistics like traffic and emergency preparedness, they will not participate in the festival activities themselves. He stated, “Pride cannot simply look safe, it has to be safe.”

The Edmonton Police Service confirmed it is working with organizers on safety coordination and event planning. Meanwhile, protesting groups argue that the presence of law enforcement ignores the concerns of Black and Indigenous queer community members.