Members of Queer Liberation Boorloo (QLB) have sent an open letter to the organisers of Perth’s annual Pride Parade, expressing concern about the inclusion of armed and uniformed police officers in the event. They also point out the challenges it poses for activist groups and individuals participating in Pride.
“When police march in uniform, with their guns in their holsters, they march not as individuals, but as representatives of the institution which serves the purpose of oppressing movements for change,” QLB representatives stated.
This was relevant for people attending Pride, given the event started as a protest, even if non-political celebration was a more common feature now, the group added.
“We are glad to have common ground in believing that an important function of the parade remains protesting for queer liberation.
“We also share Pride WA’s values in solidarity and commitment to uplift those at the intersections of our community and other oppressed communities.”
This was the first year that QLB took part in Pride — held on November 29 — with the group partnering with Friends of Palestine WA to create a solidarity float which highlighted the struggle for liberation on the part of Queer and Palestinian people and those who relate to both.
Commenting on the latter, QLB observed: “Queer Palestinians have to deal with racism that is too common from within queer communities, as well as being more likely to be rejected from family and their communities. Nonetheless the primary concern on the minds of queer Palestinians remains the ongoing genocide in Gaza perpetrated by apartheid Israel”.
Given its connection to the Palestine solidarity movement, QLB pointed out that activists have often witnessed and experienced problematic behaviour from the police, asking Pride WA to recognise the significance of this when deciding who should be included in the event.
“While police tend to take a relatively relaxed and hands-off approach to our actions in Queer Liberation Boorloo, in our engagement with various movements, both as rally goers and as organisers, we have noticed a stark contrast in the treatments of other movements,” QLB members attested.
“Protesters in the climate, free Palestine, anti-war and anti-racism movements have not been treated with such a relaxed approach. Just a few recent incidents include the crackdown on Disrupt Burrup Hub, the breaking of a comrade’s rib during a counter-demonstration to a far-right anti-immigration rally, and the rough treatment of a socialist activist with arthritis [knocking her to the ground and accusing her of trying to use her cane as a weapon when she tried to right herself].”
QLB said police violence is already increasing as authorities seek to repress social, ecological and anti-war protest movements. “This has happened more starkly in the Eastern states with a now-militarised police regularly employing so-called ‘less lethal’ weapons including tear gas, rubber bullets and rubber grenades.”
It said the queer liberation movement had often intersected with other protest movements and that Pride WA needed to remember this. “Practically all successful social movements have included actions which were disruptive and illegal,” QLB members said. Famously, this includes the Compton cafeteria riots and the Stonewall riots in our own movement for queer liberation, which were not only illegal but also violent.
“Other examples include QLB’s picketing of [Pride WA’s media sponsor] 7 West Media's office after the airing of an anti-trans current affairs episode [for which they have not apologised and continue to air transphobic media].”
Finally, QLB asked Pride WA to “encourage the change in government agencies such as the police by removing them from the parade, or modifying the terms of their inclusion such that they march as individuals rather than as representatives of the force, out of uniform.”