Cops Under Fire At Oz Pride
by Peter Hacker
365Gay.com Newscenter in Sydney

January 19, 2002

Melbourne, Australia More than 60-thousand people are taking part in GLBT Pride Weekend in Melbourne, Australia.  It is the world's first official Pride of 2002.

The highlight will be Sunday's parade in the bayside suburb of St Kilda, and leading it off will be Chief Police Commissioner Christine Nixon.

Nixon has been a strong advocate of gay rights in the force.

She will lead a contingent of 30 gay and lesbian cops.

But, their involvement is not without controversy.  The officers will all be paid for the day, a fact that has rankled some politicians.

Opposition Leader Denis Napthine said police wanting to participate should do so in their own time.

"It is inappropriate for the Chief Commissioner to take part in this march and it is also wrong for police officers to be paid to march in their uniforms," Napthine said.

"The police uniform is an important symbol and should not be used in parades which relate to any social or political agenda."

National Party leader Peter Ryan joined the condemnation of Nixon's involvement saying it pandered to special interests.

A ban on uniformed police officers participating in the march was overturned last July.

Acting Premier John Thwaites  is supporting Nixon's involvement.  As for the overtime pay, Thwaites said it was an operational matter for police.

Nixon, who will be joined in the march by Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby and Commander Leigh Gassner, said their involvement reinforced the community spirit of policing.

President of the Victorian Police Equity and Diversity Unit, Acting Superintendent Jill Wood, defended the decision saying it was a significant step in repairing relationships.

"We are simply supporting a community - a community we are trying to build bridges with because traditionally we haven't had a great relationship with the gay community," Wood said.

Relationships between police and the gay community were soured in 1994 when 463 patrons and staff at a gay club were strip-searched.

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