A local LGBTQ2S+ organization is calling on Yukon RCMP officers to “reflect” on their decision to attend a flag-raising ceremony in uniform.

Their presence went against an agreement recently made between the two organizations.

“I know people there felt intimidated, confused and quite anxious about what was going on, because (RCMP) said they weren’t going to come, and then they came in uniform,” Emily Tredger, president of Queer Yukon, told the Star Monday.

RCMP officers attended the Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the Yukon Legislative Assembly building on July 31.

Queer Yukon had alerted the Yukon RCMP on July 15 that uniformed police officers and symbols associated with the RCMP wouldn’t be welcome at Pride events.

Tredger said the RCMP agreed to respect the decision, though “they made it clear they were disappointed.”

The decision to bar the uniformed RCMP from Pride events has been adopted by several LGBTQ2S+ organizations across Canada in recent years.

Queer Yukon announced that the presence of uniformed police wouldn’t be welcome last month, in solidarity with communities protesting police brutality and systemic racism, as well as with recognition of the police’s fraught relationship with LGBTQ2S+ communities.

“There is a long violent and discriminatory history of the RCMP in dealing with queer and trans people, and that’s still going on today,” Tredger said.

“We know if there are RCMP in uniform, not everybody will feel safe.”

Queer Yukon’s board of directors has received several responses from community members regarding the police’s presence at the flag-raising. Tredger said they are still reviewing that feedback as a board.

“When someone in power says they’re not going to do something and then does it, that’s inherently intimidating,” Tredger said.

Queer Yukon issued a statement last Sunday alerting the community of the unwelcome RCMP presence at the ceremony.

The organization contacted Scott Sheppard, the Yukon RCMP chief superintendent, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, territorial Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee and Bill Blair, the federal Minister of Public Safety.

Queer Yukon initially received two responses from the involved RCMP officers, according to its Sunday statement. 

A response from Sheppard “confirmed he knew that he was not invited to attend in uniform but did so anyway, along with another RCMP officer.

No apology was provided at this time.”

The response from the second officer “apologized at first and then justified his presence at the flag raising ceremony, clearly demonstrating that he did not respect or understand why we have a policy on police participation in Pride,” the statement said.

Tredger said the actions of RCMP showed a “deep disrespect” for their agreement.

“We have a right to have events that feel safe to everyone in our community … it’s clear from their correspondence that they still don’t understand that.”

Sheppard apologized in a second correspondence to Queer Yukon on Aug. 5.

He explained he had been at the Yukon Government Main Administation Building on July 31 to attend a press briefing on opioid overdoses. 

Sheppard said he was invited to the flag-raising by McPhee just prior to the briefing. Upon attending the flag raising, Sheppard said, he realized it was a Queer Yukon event.

“This was quite simply one of those awkward moments and we both attended,” Sheppard said on Aug. 5.

“In hind sight (sic) it would have been better to have taken the time at that moment to better inform the Minister in perhaps stronger language we were not invited for a variety of reasons but I did not. 

“That is my responsibility and I apologize for not having done so.”

Sheppard said McPhee would not have invited uniformed officers to the event had she been aware of Queer Yukon’s position on the matter.

“The above notwithstanding, I can understand your concern and frustration,” Sheppard wrote. 

“(We) are committed to buiding a constructive relationship with Queer Yukon – as is every employee of our division.”

McPhee apologized for inviting RCMP officers to the flagraising in a letter dated Aug. 7.

“I invited them to join me in watching the flag raising ceremony as I felt that it showed the appropriate respect for this historic event,” McPhee wrote.

The minister said she wasn’t aware of Queer Yukon’s agreement with RCMP.

“Had I known of your decision, I would never have invited the RCMP officers to join me,” McPhee said.

“I deeply regret that my effort at inclusion detracted from what I thought was a powerful and important celebration of Yukon’s LGBTQ2S+ community.”

Tredger told the Star the Yukon RCMP need to back their apology with tangible action.

“At this point, it’s easy for them to apologize and easy for them to say they’re not going to do it; they said that once,” Tredger said.

“I think it’s up to the RCMP to figure out how to make change happen; our priority is keeping our community safe.”

Uniformed police presence will continue to not be welcome at Pride events in future years, according to Queer Yukon.

“As an organization, Queer Yukon Society prioritizes marginalized people’s safety over privileged people’s comfort,” the board of directors stated last month.

“We continue to call for police accountability on these issues, as well as comprehensive reforms to end violent and discriminatory police practices and institutionalized racism in Canada and around the world.”