For a fourth straight year, the pride flag is flying high above London police headquarters.
Deputy Police Chief Trish McIntyre erected the rainbow flag outside of 601 Dundas Street around noon on Thursday. Dozens of officers and civilian staff gathered around the flag pole to watch the colourful flag being raised.
Deputy Chief Trish McIntyre and diversity officer Constable Bory Sreng.
"It's a big moment because this is part of our commitment to the community and the LGBT community," said London police diversity officer Const. Bory Sreng.
A seven-year veteran of the force, Sreng took over the diversity officer role in January. He spoke about the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between police and members of the LGBT community.
"They can reach out to me as the diversity officer for any issues, advice, questions, just as they are able to reach out to any police officer they see," said Sreng.
A pride flag was also raised outside of the London Police Association office at William Street and York Street.
Although police are barred for a second year from wearing their uniforms in the annual pride parade, Sreng said several officers will march in matching t-shirts. London's new police Chief Steve Williams has confirmed plans to participate in the parade next Sunday.
The decision not to allow uniformed police officers to march was made by the Pride London committee.
"The policing and pride issue is definitely a complicated one," said Pride London President Andrew Rosser. "Pride started as that riot against police after the bathhouse raids of Stonewall 50 years ago. While we have come a long way and a lot of our community has made headway with police officers and formed new relationships, there is still a lot more marginalized communities - youth, people of colour, Indigenous folks - that don't feel safe around uniforms."
Rosser recently spent several weeks training 800 officers about proper terminology and how best to actively engage with the LGBT community.
"Our police are at the table, they are at our community conversations, they are flying the flag, they will be there to march in the parade out of uniform and they will be there in uniform to keep us safe as well," said Rosser.
The flag-raising ceremony at police headquarters coincided with the start of the Pride London Festival which runs from Thursday until July 28.
City Hall, Fanshawe College, Western University, and 3M (for the first time in its history) will be raising the pride flag outside of their buildings next week.
